Written by Kim
Our trip tonight is epic. The first leg from JFK to Singapore is the longest flight in the world topping out at 18 hours. We have a 4 1/2 hour layover in Singapore then another 8 hour leg to Sydney, for the first time ever we’re wearing compression socks because I’ve read you should at our age.
To start off our trip our car service was late but we got to JFK with plenty of time to stop at the Capital One lounge. Check in was a breeze. We each checked a bag and each have a backpack. I have a roll aboard too that I kept so I could drag my backpack which is heavy on it. We were the last ones through TSA Pre check before they closed the line for the night. It took about 10 minutes from the curb, through check in to the lounge. The lounge was nice with some prepared foods, some cook to order entrees, and a nice bar. It wasn’t too crowded and the snacks were delicious. Ok the drinks were good too.
We are flying Singapore Airlines in business class. For several trips we’ve been booking business class through consolidators that buy points and resell them at discounted rates. We paid about 50% less than prices on the airline site. This trip we used a consolidator called Buybusinessclass.com. All went well (so far) but I’m not sure I’d use them again. Their prices were very good but it felt shady and up until this morning I was concerned we wouldn’t have tickets so I was looking at other options. You need to have the patience and flexibility to negotiate with these guys and know your prices to get a good deal. They will try to sell you unpopular routes, times or airlines but I held my ground and got what I wanted. At first they wanted us to return to JFK at 5 pm. I said no freaking way. Anyhow, after we agreed our itinerary and I paid they told me an hour later they couldn’t get the flight. I freaked out. I paid a lot of $$ and was concerned I was scammed. I threatened to contact Citibank fraud and after some haggling they found a very similar flight. They sent confirms with our names on them so all was good. A few days ago I emailed asking for our seat assignments just to test the waters since it was a few months since booking. They never gave us seat numbers and told us we needed to get boarding passes at the airport (despite assuring they would send them 24 hours in advance). Now I was freaking out. Alex went on the Singapore app with our confirms and got our boarding passes – not sure why they gave us BS about not being able to get them. Anyhow, we’ve used another company BCConsolidator.com. You still need to negotiate with them and their prices for this itinerary were a bit higher but none of this shady BS. You get confirms, seats, and even miles with their flights. We flew United with them last time we were in Australia and Star Alliance flights with TAP Portugal & Poland air when we went to Europe. I’m spoiled traveling to Europe in business class and I’ve created a monster with my hubby who loves it too.
Singapore Air is very nice. The seats aren’t quite as comfortable as United or Lufthansa. They are a little shorter for tall people like us but once we learned how to convert them to a bed both of us got some sleep. The food has been very good. After takeoff we got a meal with a trout salad appetizer (I didn’t like but Alex loved), we both got filet in tomato broth with glass noodles which was piping hot and delicious, and for dessert there was raspberry pistachio cake that was yummy.
Midway through the flight we got another meal. This time grilled portobello salad which was delectable, I got sea bass that was scrumptious and Alex got the chicken which he said was tasty. Alex got the chocolate cake for dessert and I got some fruit.
Overall while it was a long flight it was very good. We each slept a little, watched movies, I played Candy Crush and other games and we arrived safely. What I didn’t understand were all the phone alarms going off throughout the flight. Come on people you’re not getting up for work midair. Now we are waiting in the Singapore lounge for a few hours until our next flight to Sydney which is a bit over 7 hours long. That will be a breeze after 18 it seems like a commuter. 😂 😝 😆
Until then……
