Ever found yourself booking a flight between two cities and noticing a random airline from another country offering the route? That’s a Fifth Freedom flight—when an airline operates a leg between two foreign cities as part of a longer journey.
Why does this matter? Because it lets you experience a top-tier airline with the coolest onboard features you will love, on routes usually dominated by budget carriers or regional airlines. Imagine flying Singapore Airlines between Milan and Barcelona instead of squeezing into a low-cost seat. Sounds good, right?
Singapore Airlines Fifth Freedom Routes
Singapore Airlines (SQ) is consistently ranked as one of the best airlines in the world. Known for its exceptional service, luxurious cabins, and outstanding food, it doesn’t operate many Fifth Freedom routes, compared to the emirates fifth freedom routes —but they’re definitely worth considering.
Here’s a look at what’s on offer:
Singapore Airlines 5th Freedom Routes 2025
Milan to Barcelona
✈️ Flight Time: 1 hr 35 mins
🛩️ Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
💼 Business Class: 34,500 miles + USD$26.55 (Ticket Price: USD$432.20)
New York (JFK) to Frankfurt
✈️ Flight Time: 7 hr 45 mins
🛩️ Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
💼 Business Class: 87,500 miles + USD$5.60 (Ticket Price: USD$2472.00)
Los Angeles to Tokyo (Narita)
✈️ Flight Time: 11 hr 30 mins
🛩️ Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
💼 Business Class: 103,500 miles + USD$5.60 (Ticket Price: USD$5631.00)
🔥 Best Value Singapore Airlines Fifth Freedom Routes
The value of miles is subjective. To calculate the worth of your points, using a redemption value calculator is a good idea. However, a higher value per mile doesn’t always equate to the best deal. For example, would you spend 34,500 miles for a flight that only lasts an hour or so? Probably not!
| Route | Duration | Aircraft | Flight Numbers | Cash Fare (USD) | KrisFlyer Miles | Fees (USD) | Redemption Value (Cents) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan (MXP) – Barcelona (BCN) | 1h 35m | Airbus A350-900 | SQ377 / SQ378 | 432.20 | 34,500 | 26.55 | 1.24 ⚠️ (Not Great) |
| New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) | 7h 45m | Boeing 777-300ER | SQ25 / SQ26 | 2,472 | 87,500 | 5.60 | 2.79 ✅ (Decent) |
| Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) | 11h 30m | Boeing 777-300ER | SQ11 / SQ12 | 5,631 | 103,500 | 5.60 | 5.42 ✅ (Excellent) |
🏆 Key Takeaways
✅ Best Redemptions (Long-Haul Wins!):
- Los Angeles → Tokyo Narita – Excellent value for a long-haul flight in Business Class!
- New York → Frankfurt – Decent redemption for a long, comfortable journey.
🚨 Worst Redemptions (Short Flights, High Miles Used):
- Milan → Barcelona – 34,500 miles for just 1 hour 35 minutes? Not ideal for redemption!
Singapore Airlines Ends Manchester-Houston Fifth Freedom Flight
📢 (August 2024): Singapore Airlines has announced that its Manchester to Houston fifth freedom route will be ending by the end of April 2025.
This decision marks the conclusion of this unique service, reducing the airline’s fifth freedom offerings. Let’s hope, Singapore Airlines introduces more fifth freedom routes in the future.
Why You Should Care About These Fifth Freedom Flights
Fifth Freedom flights are a fantastic travel hack, and here’s why:
✈️ Fly a Premium Airline on a Route Full of Budget Carriers
Take Milan to Barcelona—normally, you’d be stuck choosing between low-cost airlines with cramped seats and no frills. On Singapores fifth freedom flight you get to travel onboard Singapores Airlines A350-900, full-service amenities, and an overall more comfortable experience.
🛏️ Try Out Business or First-Class Without Breaking the Bank
Want to experience SQ’s world-class business class without flying all the way to Singapore? Fifth Freedom routes let you sample it on a shorter, often more affordable leg.
✈️ More Spacious Aircraft = Better Comfort
All of Singapore Airlines’ Fifth Freedom flights use wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-300ER. More legroom, better air quality, larger windows, and a smoother ride—it’s a massive upgrade over the narrow-body planes usually found on these routes.
🎟️ Award Redemptions Can Be Hit or Miss
Let’s be honest—not all redemptions are worth it. The Milan-Barcelona flight isn’t great at 1.24 cents per mile, but the LAX-NRT flight is fantastic at 5.42 cents. Of course, redemption value is subjective—sometimes, using miles is worth it just to save cash.
💡An Interesting Fact About Singapore Airlines’ New York Route
Singapore Airlines actually flies nonstop from Singapore to New York JFK, a whopping 19-hour journey on an A350-900 ULR (Ultra Long Range). But here’s the catch: this aircraft only has Business Class and Premium Economy.
So if you’re looking for Economy or First Class, you must book Singapore-Frankfurt –JFK flight instead. The Frankfurt-JFK route is the fifth freedom flight.
Final Thoughts
Fifth Freedom flights are an amazing way to level up your travel experience. Whether you’re looking for a more comfortable ride, better service, or just a unique way to use your miles, these Singapore Airlines routes are worth considering.
If you’ve never flown a world-class airline on a short-haul flight, now’s your chance!
Ready for Your Next Adventure?
Before you take off, here are some must-have travel tips and resources to make your journey smoother:
✅ Packing Made Easy – Struggle with packing? Download our ultimate packing list so you never leave an essential item behind.
🎁 Travel-Friendly Gifts & Ideas – Looking for ways to make your trip perfect? Check out these travel gifts and ideas that you may not have thought of, that can make your trip easier to manage and more comfortable.
🌍 Important Travel Updates for UK & Europe
- UK ETA – Travelers from countries like Australia and the U.S. now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival.
- European ETIAS – An ETIAS visa waiver is being rolled out for Non EU residents looking to travel into the Schengen Zone.
- Entry/Exit System (EES) – A new system will soon change how non-EU travelers go through European border controls. Keep yourself updated on the new EES (entry/Exit System) that will be rolled out.
Stay ahead of the game and travel smarter! 🚀
