SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[daft009]

I was planning on flying my family SYD-SIN-CPH in SQ business class. There are 4 of us, two kids aged 2 and 5. However it seems very tricky looking after the 2 year old in J. Modern business class seats have so much privacy, which is fantastic, however it would probably work against us.

We flew J last time we went to Europe but that's 3 years ago and we only have a lap-infant. Much easier to wrangle.

I'm thinking now we just go PE instead, and break up the trip a bit more. I welcome any input from anyone who has flown with a 2 year old in the SQ J cabins.

Yeah they'll spend more time in your seat than theirs. No point going J. 3-4yo onwards they should manage in J.

From memory SQ PE the arm rests don't go up so the 2yo will not be able to lie across seats in your lap... Just double check . Been ages since I flew SQ PE

 

[blackcat20]

@Lost Redditor we've done it with 2 and 4 year olds. Its doable, but you do end up getting up a lot to assist, so its not the most relaxing (unless they fall asleep). We set ourselves up so that it was one kid next to one adult, but then an adult behind that kid, and a kid behind the adult. So the person behind/in front could get up to help, while the person next to could also assist.

 

[FlyingFiona]

From memory SQ PE the arm rests don't go up so the 2yo will not be able to lie across seats in your lap... Just double check . Been ages since I flew SQ PE

When I last flew them (years back) and sat in D the arm rests between E and F go up. (I had flown Y MEL-SIN then PE SIN-CDG and both legs was neighbourless. I thought that Y was better in this instance because I actually had more space and could shift around to sleep better in Y than I could in PE with the fixed arm rests.)

 

[MooTime]

I was planning on flying my family SYD-SIN-CPH in SQ business class. There are 4 of us, two kids aged 2 and 5. However it seems very tricky looking after the 2 year old in J. Modern business class seats have so much privacy, which is fantastic, however it would probably work against us.

We flew J last time we went to Europe but that's 3 years ago and we only have a lap-infant. Much easier to wrangle.

I'm thinking now we just go PE instead, and break up the trip a bit more. I welcome any input from anyone who has flown with a 2 year old in the SQ J cabins.

We recently flew SQ in PE & J with 5 & 7yo.

As @daft009 said the PE seats armrest doesn't go up which was really sh^t as child wants to rest on you. 7yo no probs in J though, not sure about a 5yo in J though as when our 7yo was in J couple years ago he wasn't biggest fan, everything so far way. Does make a difference if your located in 2 middle seats & they can slide that slider & see you, hand you stuff & show you what they watching!

Depends on the seating in Y if it's 3-3-3 or 2-4-2, we found 2 of us in J & 2 of us in Y worked well. swapping who's in J for return journey to keep the peace at home!!
As a 2-3yo they want to be touching you / resting on you so J makes that little difficult.

Good dilemma you have though, enjoy.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

When I last flew them (years back) and sat in D the arm rests between E and F go up. (I had flown Y MEL-SIN then PE SIN-CDG and both legs was neighbourless. I thought that Y was better in this instance because I actually had more space and could shift around to sleep better in Y than I could in PE with the fixed arm rests.)

It looks like the centre armrests of the centre block on 4 seats will raise… but only on some models… looking at the pictures on google there are some configurations where the centre armrests are fixed in the middle, housing the IFE controls of something. (not to be confused with the fixed double armrests that don’t move at all.)

And that applies even to seats not at the bulkhead.

So worth researching before booking for aircraft type, and potential PEY seat version.

 

[MooTime]

even when you research your exact plane on your booked flight, plane can be changed like it was for us.

I'd suggest book based on most inconvenient seat type scenarios & book what's then best to make your 2 & 5yo most comfortable, that's what's most important.

Us big kids can just suck it up, sitting in PE or Y that is.

 

[daft009]

We recently flew SQ in PE & J with 5 & 7yo.

As @daft009 said the PE seats armrest doesn't go up which was really sh^t as child wants to rest on you. 7yo no probs in J though, not sure about a 5yo in J though as when our 7yo was in J couple years ago he wasn't biggest fan, everything so far way. Does make a difference if your located in 2 middle seats & they can slide that slider & see you, hand you stuff & show you what they watching!

Depends on the seating in Y if it's 3-3-3 or 2-4-2, we found 2 of us in J & 2 of us in Y worked well. swapping who's in J for return journey to keep the peace at home!!
As a 2-3yo they want to be touching you / resting on you so J makes that little difficult.

Good dilemma you have though, enjoy.

My 2 boys, 4.5yo & 9yo were fine in J as we sat them in the centre seats. wife & i were at the windows across the aisle.
I did have to change the movie for the little one and help with lunch, he was self sufficient and content otherwise. 9yo was having the time of his life, barely heard a peep from him

 

[Lost Redditor]

Thanks all. I like the suggestion of two in J and two in Y or PE, however my partner is such a nervous flyer so that might take some convincing.

If only more airlines adopted the QR booth-style 4 seat configuration. Partner refuses to fly via Middle East at the moment and I don't blame her.

I think we'll book PE. 2 is a bit young for own seat in J in a 1-2-1 arrangement, and would probably be too disruptive to the other passengers and staff.

 

[lovestotravel]

We have always flown in J with the kids since they were babies, at least once and sometimes twice a year from here to the UK.

Yes ages 2-4 is the hardest, as you already know!

If $$ is not a major concern, I'd still be doing J. While the 2 year may move around and jump and be a kid, it will be easier in J.

Never underestimate space...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And the other advantage of business class is sleep!

24 hours in PEY means tired parents and tired kids. At least in business, even taking turns sleeping, parents will be better prepared for any issues.

 

[ramamba]

We did Denmark last year in J when they were 2.5 and 4.5. The only issue were the take offs, we had to take the youngest on lap with belt extension. Then they get used to the seat and that you're around the corner. With seats, we were in a row A-DF-K with us in the middle and kids at windows, but the 2yo spent a lot of time with us in the middle. The big thing was that they had proper sleep on both legs, so long connections in SIN and BNE were a breeze.

Thanks all. I like the suggestion of two in J and two in Y or PE, however my partner is such a nervous flyer so that might take some convincing.

Depends on the kids I guess, but for ours separating them across cabins would have been a recipe for disaster.

 

[tassie6]

I was planning on flying my family SYD-SIN-CPH in SQ business class. There are 4 of us, two kids aged 2 and 5. However it seems very tricky looking after the 2 year old in J. Modern business class seats have so much privacy, which is fantastic, however it would probably work against us.

We flew J last time we went to Europe but that's 3 years ago and we only have a lap-infant. Much easier to wrangle.

I'm thinking now we just go PE instead, and break up the trip a bit more. I welcome any input from anyone who has flown with a 2 year old in the SQ J cabins.

We took our 2 year old to europe and return, one way in PE and one way in J (what we could get with points).

We used a compliant car seat in the PE and J seats, link for details/policies here:

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/travel-info/special-assistance/travelling-with-children/#accordion-a411451d6c-item-475b1e8147

Pros:

• Kid is used to the seat
• Can strap them in and they cant get out during takeoff/landing/seatbelt when you potentially cant reach them
• Carried him on and off the plane in the seat between quick transits while sleeping

Cons:

• Stuck with a carseat in Europe to lug around (we did have a fair amount of car travel so wasnt too bad for us, also meant didnt have to hire)
• Making sure crew familiar with rules
• Getting people saying as they board "there is a baby in first class!" ha

Overall, would do it again at that age, depending on the kid, but it is a bit of an effort

Here is a photo in the J seat:

 

[MooTime]

We took our 2 year old to europe and return, one way in PE and one way in J (what we could get with points).

We used a compliant car seat in the PE and J seats, link for details/policies here:

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/travel-info/special-assistance/travelling-with-children/#accordion-a411451d6c-item-475b1e8147

Pros:

• Kid is used to the seat
• Can strap them in and they cant get out during takeoff/landing/seatbelt when you potentially cant reach them
• Carried him on and off the plane in the seat between quick transits while sleeping

Cons:

• Stuck with a carseat in Europe to lug around (we did have a fair amount of car travel so wasnt too bad for us, also meant didnt have to hire)
• Making sure crew familiar with rules
• Getting people saying as they board "there is a baby in first class!" ha

Overall, would do it again at that age, depending on the kid, but it is a bit of an effort

Here is a photo in the J seat:

View attachment 526031

I image what folks passing seeing child in car seat in Business class, wow....waste of so much room, ha!

 

[n7of9]

I secured SQ J Reward SIN-Europe return. I'm considering flying QF to SIN. I know I'll need to collect my luggage, but do i go through immigration and quarantine and then back in, or is there an airside transfer?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I secured SQ J Reward SIN-Europe return. I'm considering flying QF to SIN. I know I'll need to collect my luggage, but do i go through immigration and quarantine and then back in, or is there an airside transfer?

If you have to collect your luggage you’ll need to clear immigration, and then do the same outbound.

It used to be - pre-covid - that going to an airside transfer desk they’d go find your luggage, tag it, and put it on your next flight. I don’t think that’s a common service anymore at Changi?

 

[serfty]

It used to be - pre-covid - that going to an airside transfer desk they’d go find your luggage, tag it, and put it on your next flight. I don’t think that’s a common service anymore at Changi?

I have seen anecdotes this year that that transfer service is still is a thing.

Post in thread 'Self-Transfer through Changi'

Jun 12, 2026

Just had great success with a self-transfer at SIN between un-connected itineraries.

Flew QR via DOH to SIN, then am on QF tonight on another booking to SYD

Went to transfer desk C and asked if it was possible, provided passport and QR bag tags. Two minutes of vigorous typing and swiping of passport and was handed paper QF boarding pass, QF baggage receipt and informed bags will be rerouted to Sydney.

Meant my 5hr layover is now enjoyed in the lounges rather than having to clear immigration, get bags, wait for check in to open etc etc. As long as my bags show up in Sydney, I’ll be very...

• pythonisman

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[serfty]

I secured SQ J Reward SIN-Europe return. I'm considering flying QF to SIN. I know I'll need to collect my luggage, but do i go through immigration and quarantine and then back in, or is there an airside transfer?

As indicated by @MEL_Traveller and my immediate prior post you should not have to collect your luggage. Just approach a T1 transfer desk on arrival and ask them.

 

[serfty]

Not if you're red/green colour blind fellow passengers must think I am stupid when I have to get up and peer at the toilet door !!

I know the experience ... need to get up close in the dim light and discern between an horizontal or a vertical bar.