Which airline has the best Brisbane-Singapore business class?

The traffic between Brisbane to Singapore isn’t as frenetic compared to Sydney or Melbourne, but competition is still surprisingly fierce with three full-service airlines putting on some of their best products on this route.

Qantas and Singapore Airlines are the obvious contenders, but there's also an Emirates flight which heads to Dubai via the Red Dot. Here’s our take on the best business class from Brisbane to Singapore

Brisbane-Singapore business class: the best schedule

Singapore Airlines goes all-out with four daily flights at 9:10am, 2:45pm, 6:10pm, and an overnight red-eye departing at 11:50pm to reach Singapore before the crack of dawn.

Qantas and Emirates follow with one daily flight each. The flying kangaroo leaps off at 12:00pm to arrive in the early evening, while Emirates opts for a painfully early or late 2:35am departure (depending on how you look at it) that sails into Singapore around 8am later that day, before continuing onwards to Dubai.

These flight schedules are current for the 2019 winter period, and will naturally have some variations throughout the year.

Brisbane-Singapore business class: the best lounges

Qantas’ recently refurbished Brisbane International Lounge is in full swing during the morning departures, including QF51 to Singapore.

After a redesign in 2016, this lounge is now up to Qantas’ mixed ‘premium lounge’ standards and spans two stories. On the top is the ‘Brisbane Breakfast Hatch’ which offers up healthy plates to start your travel day right.

Soft egg, kale, haloumi and quinoa

This lounge is open to Qantas business class guests, Qantas Club members and elite frequent flyers.

AusBT Review: Qantas Brisbane International Lounge

The Emirates Brisbane lounge was the first-ever outstation lounge for the Middle Eastern airline, and one of just a handful to offer direct lounge-to-plane boarding.

Champagne is on tap, as well as a wide selection of hot and cold buffet dishes.

Technically, Qantas passengers to Singapore have access to this Emirates lounge as well. However, since Emirates’ flights are all in the evening and Qantas' at midday, the lounge would be closed before QF51.

AusBT review: The Emirates Lounge, Brisbane

Singapore Airline has a bright and airy SilverKris lounge to cater for its four daily departures.

With plenty of food, beverage and seating options available, this lounge ticks all the boxes for business and leisure travellers.

AusBT Review: Singapore Airlines' SilverKris Lounge, Brisbane Airport

Honourable mention: Singapore Airlines business class guests and Star Alliance Gold flyers can also gain access to the nearby Air New Zealand lounge, if it’s open (2.5 hours before an Air NZ or contracted partner flight). It has a funky vibe and plenty of natural light and views, thanks to its corner location.

Also read: Your guide to Brisbane International Airport lounges

Brisbane-Singapore business class: the best seats

The business class seats you'll get flying between Brisbane and Singapore are mostly top-notch. Here's how we rate them for comfort.

Qantas’ daytime flight features the airline's functional and fashionable Airbus A330 Business Suite, which should satisfy the needs for just about any traveller.

There's plenty of nooks and crannies for your personal items, and a mattress topper is supplied for overnight flights back from Singapore.

Singapore Airlines’ now exclusively flies the Airbus A350-900 between Singapore and Brisbane, but there are some differences between these jets.

One of the four flights, SQ246 at 11:50pm, will have the long-range business class seats also found on the Boeing 777-300ERs.

It’s quite wide at 71 cm across and has plenty of spaces to store things around you.

The remaining flights will have Singapore Airline's newest regional business class seats, which are more compact.

It’s still a welcome upgrade from the previous ‘sloping sleepers’ found on the Airbus A330s and Boeing 777-200s that used to fly to Brisbane. Arranged over ten rows of 1-2-1, every seat reclines into a fully-flat bed.

For maximum comfort, the first row of the cabin has the widest footwells for more space to stretch out and sleep.

Rounding up the list is Emirates Boeing 777-300ER business class. These birds aren't being refitted, so expect a 2-3-2 layout in business class...

... which creates the dreaded ‘middle seat’. These older version seats recline to form an angled-flat bed.

Given EK433 from Brisbane to Singapore is a truly overnight flight, the sooner Emirates can launch a better business class product, the better it will be for business travellers.

Brisbane to Singapore business class: the best inflight service

Each airline does inflight service somewhat differently. Here’s a brief outline of what you can expect while you’re onboard.

There’s not too much to differentiate with service, so your decision will likely fall down to scheduling and what jets you’re hoping to ride on.

What’s your favourite business class for travelling between Brisbane and Singapore?

Brandon Loo

Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.