How I used Capital One miles to book a 16-hour Singapore Airlines business-class flight | CNN Underscored

Flying one of the world’s longest nonstop routes in business class can easily cost thousands of dollars. But with the right travel rewards strategy, you can book a lie-flat seat for a fraction of the usual cost.

I recently flew nonstop from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Singapore Changi Airport in Singapore Airlines business class for 112,500 miles and just $5.60 in taxes and fees. Rather than booking through the Capital One Travel portal, I transferred Capital One miles earned with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card directly to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer loyalty program.

Singapore Airlines regularly ranks among the contenders for the world’s best airline, particularly for its premium cabins and service. And while I was impressed by the crew, dining and overall experience, the business-class seat itself was showing its age.

Here’s how I booked the flight, what I got for my Capital One miles and if I’d make the same redemption again.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is one of the most useful airline loyalty programs for travelers who want to redeem credit card rewards for premium travel to and from Singapore.

One of its biggest advantages is that you don’t need to be a frequent Singapore Airlines passenger to earn enough miles for a business-class ticket. KrisFlyer partners with several major transferable credit card rewards programs, including Capital One miles, American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

That means you can earn miles through everyday credit card spending in the US and transfer them to KrisFlyer when you’re ready to book a flight.

Unlike programs that have switched to fully dynamic award pricing, Singapore Airlines publishes award charts for its flights. That gives travelers a better idea of how many miles they’ll need, although actual award availability can be limited, particularly in business class.

Singapore Airlines also offers two primary award categories: Saver and Advantage. Saver awards generally require fewer miles but can be harder to find, while Advantage awards cost more miles and may offer greater availability. It’s important to note that most dates do not have business-class award space, so we recommend confirming availability before transferring miles.

I used 112,500 KrisFlyer miles to book my nonstop flight from Seattle to Singapore. That’s a substantial number of miles for a one-way ticket, but it also got me a business-class seat on a flight lasting roughly 16 hours, with meals, drinks and lie-flat seating included.

The taxes and fees were another major selling point. I paid just $5.60 out of pocket, which is considerably less than the several hundred dollars in surcharges that some international airline award programs collect.

Of course, the number of miles required is only part of the equation. To determine the precise value of a redemption, you also need to consider the comparable cash fare and what you could have done with those miles elsewhere.

Still, for travelers who want to fly Singapore Airlines business class without paying thousands of dollars, KrisFlyer is a program worth understanding.

I earned the miles for this redemption with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which I’ve had since 2023. The Venture X is one of the travel credit cards I use most frequently, particularly for purchases outside of dining and groceries. The card earns at least 2 Capital One miles per dollar spent on purchases, which makes it a relatively straightforward way to earn rewards without having to keep track of rotating bonus categories.

It also earns elevated rewards on eligible travel booked through Capital One Travel, with 5 miles per dollar for flights and vacation rentals, and 10 miles per dollar for hotels and rental cars.

Currently, new Venture X card holders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. That’s more than halfway toward the 112,500 miles I used for my Singapore Airlines business-class ticket. There’s also a Venture X Business card that currently has a limited time welcome offer, which allows you to earn up to $4,300 in travel value when you spend $120,000 in your first 4 months as a cardholder—$1,000 bonus to use on Capital One Business Travel + 300,000 bonus miles + your $300 annual Capital One Business Travel Credit.

One of the reasons I value Capital One miles is their flexibility. Rather than being restricted to a single airline, I can transfer miles to a variety of airline loyalty programs when I find a redemption that makes sense.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is one of those partners, and Capital One miles transfer to KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio. In my case, that meant transferring 112,500 Capital One miles to receive 112,500 KrisFlyer miles. The miles arrived immediately in my KrisFlyer account, so I could book the ticket right away.

The Venture X isn’t the only Capital One card that earns transferable miles. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which has a lower annual fee at $95 per year, also earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases, and eligible miles can be transferred to Singapore Airlines and other airline partners.

The Venture currently has a limited-time welcome offer of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus a $300 Capital One Travel stays credit for hotel and vacation rental bookings during the first card holder year.

Both cards can be useful for travelers who want to accumulate rewards over time and eventually redeem them for a premium-cabin flight. In fact, either card’s 75,000-mile welcome bonus would cover two-thirds of the miles I needed for this redemption, before factoring in the miles earned from meeting the spending requirement.

However, I wouldn’t recommend transferring Capital One miles to KrisFlyer speculatively. Once you move your rewards into an airline loyalty program, you generally can’t transfer them back. KrisFlyer miles also have an expiration policy, which makes it especially important to have a specific redemption in mind.

Singapore Airlines operates the Seattle to Singapore route with an Airbus A350-900, and booking business class meant I could avoid a connection while getting a lie-flat seat for the long journey across the Pacific.

As mentioned, I booked directly through Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program rather than using the Capital One Travel portal.

Here’s the process I’d recommend following if you want to make a similar redemption:

One important consideration is that transfers aren’t always instantaneous. Even if an airline seat is available when you initiate the transfer, there’s no guarantee it will still be there when the miles arrive. That’s why I always recommend confirming award availability before moving any transferable credit card rewards to an airline.

While my flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 that was only about four years old, the business-class seat design dates back to 2013. After spending roughly 16 hours on board, I could see where the product was beginning to fall behind newer competitors.

Singapore Airlines uses a one-two-one business-class configuration on this aircraft, which gives every passenger direct aisle access. The seats are wide, and the cabin has a distinctive open design, thanks in part to the absence of overhead bins above the center seats.

That makes the cabin feel particularly spacious, even though there are four seats across each row.

The overall appearance seemed to be holding up remarkably well. The finishes, seat upholstery and lighting gave the cabin a polished look, and it’s easy to understand why this was considered such an impressive product when it debuted more than a decade ago.

The crew also made a fantastic first impression. I happened to be wearing a Singapore Airlines shirt that I’d purchased at Mustafa Centre in Singapore, and the flight attendants gave me an especially warm welcome when I boarded. It was a small interaction, but one that immediately set the tone for the flight.

Unfortunately, the seat was the biggest disappointment of the experience. Although it was wide, the seat isn’t especially intuitive to use. The controls felt dated, and the sleeping arrangement was less comfortable than what you’d find on many newer business-class products.

Most notably, the footwell is positioned off to the side, so unless you’re sitting in a bulkhead seat, you have to angle your legs diagonally when reclining or sleeping. That’s a significant compromise on a 16-hour flight.

I was still able to get several hours of daytime sleep, but I wouldn’t describe the seat as one of the most comfortable business-class products I’ve flown. The unusual sleeping position makes it harder to stretch out naturally, particularly for travelers who prefer sleeping on their backs.

This is where Singapore Airlines’ otherwise excellent business-class experience begins to show its age.

Dining and service were the highlights

While the seat left me wanting more, the food and service were excellent. Singapore Airlines offers its well-known Book the Cook service on eligible flights, allowing business-class passengers to preorder a main course before departure.

For lunch, I selected coq au vin, the classic French chicken dish prepared with red wine. I appreciated having the option to choose my meal in advance rather than relying entirely on what was available on board.

After a couple hours of sleep, I was ready for something lighter and ordered the vegetable wonton soup. It was refreshing and exactly what I wanted after spending several hours asleep in a pressurized cabin.

Later, I finished with a tasty serving of prawn mee, a Singaporean noodle dish.

The crew was consistently attentive, friendly and professional. Even though the flight was long, the service never felt rushed or impersonal. Singapore Airlines has built its reputation on hospitality, and based on this flight, I can see why.

Amenities and other details

Singapore Airlines provided a Le Labo amenity kit in business class, although many additional amenities were stocked in the lavatories rather than packaged individually at each seat.

I actually appreciated that approach. Instead of receiving a large collection of products I might never use, I could take what I needed during the flight.

Another detail I liked was the cloth hand towels in the bathrooms. It’s a relatively small touch, but it makes the lavatory experience feel more refined than the standard paper towels you’ll find on most airlines.

And then there was the Singapore Airlines teddy bear. I loved mine. It’s one of those airline souvenirs that isn’t particularly practical but makes the experience a little more memorable.

Taken together, the amenities, thoughtful service and excellent dining helped offset some of the seat’s shortcomings. Still, if I were choosing between Singapore Airlines and another airline with a significantly newer business-class seat, I’d pay close attention to the aircraft before booking.

You don’t need to have flown Singapore Airlines before to book a similar award. With a transferable rewards credit card and some flexibility, it’s possible to accumulate enough miles for a long-haul business-class ticket.

Here are a few strategies I’d recommend:

Finally, remember that award availability is constantly changing. The fact that I booked this flight for 112,500 miles doesn’t mean you’ll find the same price or availability on your preferred date.

Using 112,500 Capital One miles and paying just $5.60 to fly Singapore Airlines business class from Seattle to Singapore was a redemption I was happy to make.

The flight delivered on many of the things Singapore Airlines is known for: excellent service, impressive dining and a spacious, well-maintained cabin. Unfortunately, the seat itself was a disappointment.

Despite flying on a relatively young Airbus A350, I was sitting in a business-class product that dates back to 2013. The awkward sleeping position and dated controls made it clear that the seat is ready for an update.

Thankfully, Singapore Airlines has announced plans to introduce an entirely new long-haul business-class product as part of its cabin modernization program.

Would I book this flight again with Capital One miles? Yes, particularly if I needed to travel nonstop between Seattle and Singapore and could find a similarly priced award. But I’d also compare other airlines and aircraft before transferring more than 100,000 miles.

For me, this flight was a reminder that an excellent business-class experience isn’t just about the seat. Service, food and thoughtful details can make a long journey much more enjoyable. Singapore Airlines delivered on those fronts, even if its older business-class seat didn’t quite live up to the airline’s reputation.

CNN Underscored’s team of expert editors and contributors carefully reviews credit cards, travel rewards and loyalty programs to help readers navigate changes and make informed financial decisions. Our expert recommendations are grounded in real-world value, not hype, and backed by thorough analysis, expert insight and a commitment to clarity and transparency.

For this article, CNN Underscored travel products editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen transferred Capital One miles to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and personally flew the nonstop Seattle-to-Singapore route in business class, evaluating the booking process, seat comfort, dining, amenities and service. Olsen has extensive experience using transferable credit card rewards to book international premium-cabin flights.