Singapore Airlines Business Class on the A350-900 Medium Haul between Hong Kong and Singapore demonstrates how premium short-haul travel can deliver outstanding value.
Especially when spontaneous escape is in action.
TLDR
| Category | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Comfort | ✅ Comfortable padding that is not hard to rest on unlike A380 (2017J) ✅ 180 degree reclining seat without needing to flip | ❌ Narrow seat width compared to other SQ products such as 2013J and 2018RJ just 20 inches |
| Privacy | ✅ Good privacy from it’s shell like seat design | |
| Entertainment | ✅ 18″ IFE reponsive touchscreen with plenty of programs running on SQ | |
| Amenities | ❌ Amenity Kits not guaranteed on short flights ❌ Only 2 lavatories to serve all 40 business class passengers. | |
| Overall Value | ✅ Impressive comfort for flight between 4-6 hours regional routes. |
Booking
This one-way Business Class ticket was secured for just 23,800 KrisFlyer miles—a 30% discount off the standard Saver rate of 34,000 miles and significantly lower than the full redemption price of 50,000 miles. Even more remarkable? Economy Class on the same flight costs 30,000 miles as the saver rate was sold out, making this Spontaneous Escapes promotion an undeniable bargain—Business Class for fewer miles than Economy.
At a cash price of ~SGD 1,807 (HKD 10,630), the redemption value reaches an outstanding 7.59 cents per mile, far surpassing the typical 1.5-2.0 cent benchmark.
Flight Details
| Carrier | Singapore Airlines |
| Aircraft | Airbus A350-900 |
| Travel Period | Feb 2025 |
| Air Miles Utilised | 23,800 + HKD 345.00 |
| Flight Number / Registration Number | SQ899 (9V-SHF) |
| Product | 2018RJ (Airbus A350-900 Medium Haul) |
| Seats | 12K |
Check-In
Priority Check-In & Immigration
The early morning departure saw minimal crowds, with two exclusive counters handling Business Class passengers. Check-in proved refreshingly straightforward, devoid of queues or delays.
Immigration formalities were equally expedient, particularly for holders of the APEC Business Travel Card granting access to priority lanes right after checking in.
SilverKris Lounge
Just steps away from the check-in area lies the SilverKris Lounge, Hong Kong’s sole Star Alliance lounge. It is located convenient near Gate 5 which allows travelers to transition smoothly from airport formalities to “pre-flight relaxation”.
You may also read more about SilverKris Lounge (HKG) in the review here. While it is not exactly the best lounge, but offers a functional yet practical pre-flight experience for Singapore Airlines passengers. Perhaps due to the time of visit at 8AM, this lounge was not as crowded as the flagship Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in SIN T3.
While the SilverKris Lounge offers a comfortable pre-flight environment, passengers should note that some gates – particularly Gate 48 used for this flight – require significant transit time within Hong Kong International Airport’s expansive terminal.
The distance necessitates leaving the lounge approximately 15-20 minutes before boarding to ensure timely arrival at the gate as this will require a transit via the Automated People Mover (APM), a driverless electric train system that transports passengers between Terminal 1, the Midfield Concourse, and the SkyPier terminal.
Seats
Overview
Singapore Airlines’ 2018RJ cabin design on the A350-900 features a refined 1-2-1 configuration that ensures every passenger has direct aisle access.
While the design excels in privacy with high walls and clever dividers, some passengers might find the seat of 2018RJ design much narrow (20 inch) when compared to Singapore Airlines’ older 2017J – A380 model (25 inch) or the 2013J model (28 inch) fitted on all A350 Long Haul, A350 ULR and all 777-300ER aircraft.
One of the standout features is the straightforward lie-flat 180 degrees mechanism that converts seamlessly into a 76-inch bed without any complicated flipping or repositioning. The sleeping surface proves particularly comfortable for back-sleepers, with adequate cushioning and support for a restful flight, that feels much better than the A380-800 product.
And, as usual, non-PPS travellers will only see these premium seats (bulkhead seats) when such seats remains unoccupied 96 hours (4 days) before the departure for regional flights and 48 hours (2 days) before long-haul flights, thus, making such redemption almost impossible at Spontaneous Escape rates for Non-PPS travellers.
Singapore Airlines 2018RJ Seat Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Seat Type | 180-degree fully lie-flat |
| Configuration | 1-2-1 (All direct aisle access) |
| Bed Length | 76 inches (193 cm) |
| Width | 20 inches (50.8 cm) |
| Storage | Side cubby cabinet |
| Privacy | Shell-design seat walls with center divider for center seats (D/F) |
| IFE | 18 Inch Panasonic HD Display |
The below table also summarizes the specification across different Singapore Airlines Business-Class products.
| Aircraft Type | Seat Generation | Seat Width |
|---|---|---|
| A350-900ULR/LH Boeing 777-300ER | 2013J | 28″ |
| A380-800 | 2017J | 25″ |
| Boeing 787-10 Airbus A350-900MH | 2018RJ | 20″ |
| Boeing 737-8 | 2021RJ | 19″ |
IFE System
The A350’s 18-inch Panasonic HD touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and responsive controls, though it shows its age compared to newer systems. The resolution (1080p) remains sharp and is consistent across the other SQ’s variant. The IFE Remote is located on the side of the seat right under the seat adjustment control.
Full information and details of IFE programs that Singapore Airlines runs on KrisWorld can be found here.
Power & Storage
The A350-900MH (2018RJ) consist of 2 storage area – located beside the seat and overhead.
| Storage Areas | Description |
| Side Stowage Cubby (Beside seats) | For small personal items |
| Overhead Storage (Overhead) | Bulkier hand-carry items |
The universal power sockets and 2 USB ports is conveniently tucked inside the side storage cubby and the seat controls is positioned right above the IFE screen controller seen above.
The meal tray table on board folds out smoothly from the armrest, which is sturdy enough for dining or work.
Amenity Kit
For flights exceeding 6 hours, passengers can request the coveted Le Labo amenity kit, which features three products: hand pomade, face mist, and lip balm. While these kits are officially reserved for flight exceeding 6 hours, you may also be lucky on shorter flights.
Unfortunately, for this flight. I did not manage to get any set of amenity kit, however this is the New Le Labo amenity kit that was taken from the previous trip. Do check out with the crew if there is any of these on board.
Lavatories
Singapore Airlines equips its Business Class lavatories with a standard set of Penhaligon’s Quercus amenities, including facial mist, hand lotion, and cologne, alongside practical items like shaver kits and toothbrushes. The A350-900MH (2018RJ) cabin features 2 lavatories serving the 40-seat Business Class section which represents a 1:20 passenger-to-toilet ratio.
Food
Today’s meal service featured roast chicken with noodles in oyster sauce—a comforting, if predictable, selection for regional business class. The chicken was surprisingly moist, while the overall noodles tasted a little salty. Nothing to shout about but good enough for a 4 hours flight.
This is not a Book-the-cook dish. Should you wish to have your dishes booked, you can get them done through managing your booking on Singapore Airlines website or Mobile App at least 24 hours prior to your flight (or 48 hours prior if you depart from Auckland)
Summary
Singapore Airlines’ A350-900MH (2018RJ) Business Class offers a polished yet imperfect experience that shines for regional hops but shows some limitations. While the lie-flat seat provides genuine comfort for medium-haul flights and the 18-inch IFE screen delivers excellent entertainment options, the 20-inch seat width feels noticeably tighter than SQ’s premier products.
Ultimately, it’s a strong regional business product that makes sense for its intended routes.
“The A350 Regional Jet is business travel’s reliable briefcase: polished enough to impress clients, practical for short hops, but lacking the executive suite spaciousness of its long-haul siblings“
What do you think?
Heretic Nomad 
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