I'm the first to upload the reinstated world's longest flight on here.
Yay me!
This flight would remain on the most discerning AvGeek's bucket list and after 12 years in the making, I was about to finally embark on this voyage.
12 years ago, Singapore Airlines operated the Airbus A340-500 ( the sexiest aircraft ever produced ) on their non-stop flights to both Newark and Los Angeles, but it was soon shelved due to rising fuel costs.
Fast forward to 2018, the flights were reinstated with the more fuel-efficient Airbus A350-900ULR.
I had booked the tickets on the 1st of June, the day the tickets were released for purchase and quickly snagged the single seats at the aft of the Premium Economy cabin.
Now, for the flight proper.
Since the flight departs at 0040hrs, there was no excuse to get another day of leave so I slogged through a full day of meetings before heading to the airport.
There was no one at the Premium Economy check-in counters so it was a breeze to send the luggage and to obtain the boarding pass.
Interestingly, all bags on this flight was tagged with Business Class priority tags, so who's bags get offloaded first?
With Priority Pass, we gained access to both the SATS Premier Lounge, and the DNATA Lounge for food and libations respectively.
Faced with the prospect of 18 hours locked in a pressurised metal tube hurtling through the sky, we stretched our legs by making the trek to Terminal 1 on foot, before walking back to the boarding gate at the far end of Terminal 3.
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Boarding was a relaxed affair even though it was a full flight. We could board the aircraft at our leisure.
Upon reaching my seat at the aft of the aircraft, I immediately knew that I had made the right choice.
There was unlimited space, together with the storage box that was big enough for every imaginable carry-on.
The aircraft was 9V-SGA, by the way.
Serendipitously, it was also to be my very first time on board the Airbus A350!
The in-flight manager in red made the flight an especially memorable one with the level of service and attention that she and her crew provided.
"Purple light, in the valley…"
Only Singaporean males who have gone through National Service will get this reference.
She was not working this flight though.
The take off roll was surprisingly quick, and we were soon on our way to the other side of the planet.
I didn't bother paying for in-flight wifi as it was chance to shut out our worldly connections for more than half a day, which is a respite few of us get to enjoy.
I had ordered BTC for the flight with Nasi Lemak for supper and Pork Congee for breakfast, both of which was excellent!
Nasi Lemak.
Pork Congee.
The meals were very civilised affairs, with cloth-covered trays, napkins, and Moet & Chandon champagne.
I had slept after the first meal service, only waking up somewhere above Japan due to a particularly strong bout of turbulence.
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My body clock was definitely confused.
.
The lavatories were meticulously maintained throughout the entire flight.
New York approaches.
The very small and intimate Premium Economy cabin.
New Jersey.
New Jersey.
Almost there.
Clocked a new personal best.
Since I have a diplomatic visa, I was one of the first to clear immigration and since we were the first flight of the day, the bags were already on the carousel.
Visitied the Art & Lounge landside only to find it a huge disappointment.
Hi Kohkohpops, thanks for sharing this awesome report on the world's longest flight and congrats on being the first on the site to review it! You picked the perfect seat! I agree about the A340-500 being the best looking aircraft. I was lucky enough to be in SIN a few days before the last SQ A345 flight and caught a glimpse of one taxiing by. A350s are pretty sexy too, but just not the same. I've recently read that SQ are having a difficult time selling the W cabin on this flight, but having no trouble with J sales. It sounds like the already intimate W cabin may be even smaller in the future.
Thanks for sharing!