Flying Singapore Airlines Suites Class, Part 1: Jakarta to Singapore and the Hidden Private Room at Changi
What is it like to be a billionaire for a day? Singapore Airlines operates the most luxurious cabin in the sky on their A380s — Suites Class. A private room, a double bed, and a level of service that doesn’t feel real. Inspired by Derek Low’s now-famous write-up and a handful of other bloggers, this was near the top of my wish list for years.
After saving up close to 100,000 miles, I finally had the chance to book it. The award-ticket availability is brutal — they release very few seats per flight and most people end up wait-listed — but I got lucky and secured a one-way from Jakarta to New York.
What It Would Cost in Cash
For reference, this is roughly what the one-way Singapore–New York Suites fare costs if you’re paying cash. Mine started from Jakarta, so it would have been even more. Thankfully, miles.
Jakarta → Singapore (First Class)
The Jakarta–Singapore leg was First Class rather than Suites (Suites only operates on the A380), but First was already an exceptional start.
After picking up my boarding passes I headed straight to the lounge — no TSA theater, just a short walk.
Since I had time to kill, I wandered over to the PPS (Priority Passenger Service) lounge as well.
Both were nice, but honestly? They’d look modest next to what was waiting for me in Changi.
Onboard First Class
The flight attendant greeted me by name and offered me a glass of 2004 Dom Perignon before takeoff.
Breakfast was salmon with a poached egg — cooked perfectly, very fresh.
An hour later, we landed in Singapore.
The Hidden Private Room at Changi
I’ve been through Changi dozens of times, but finding the Suites-exclusive lounge was a quest. It’s in Terminal 3, upstairs, at the far end of a long, unmarked corridor.
The entrance is through SilverKris Lounge. A hostess greets you and then walks you through two other tiers of lounge before you reach the innermost one.
The tiered progression is a clever piece of theater. The first lounge has cafeteria-style food and cheap California rolls.
Then you step into The Private Room and you’re in a different world.
I’d just eaten on the plane, so I kept it light: the US Prime Beef Burger with foie gras.
Two hours later, I was hungry again. Fried lobster with wonton noodles — fantastic.
A Rolex wall clock, because of course.
Eventually it was time to board.
Part 2 picks up onboard the A380 — the Suite itself, the Krug, “Book the Cook,” the double bed, kaiseki breakfast, the Frankfurt transit, and landing in New York.