I've flown to singapore maybe 80++ times in past 30 yrs....usually in business, once in a while first and never in coach. I've done it solo, with my wife, with my family (first time boys were age of 20 months and 7 months).

In old days, it was UA (actually Pan Am way back) to Tokyo, then connect to Singapore, arriving around midnight....departing JFK 12 or 1 pm, so basically 24 hrs. With young babies we would sometimes layover in tokyo, sometimes straight through.

Then SQ came out with Europe route that shaved off a few hours, so total trip around 20+ hrs. That was huge improvement and few hr difference with minimum layover was great.

And now, more recently the non-stop via Newark which is 17++ hrs.

If you're in business class, it's a no-brainer: take the non-stop. Even the coach in the back is much improved over the regular 747 configured coach, although one might want to make a layover via the European route (either Frankfurt or Amsterdam).

IMHO, the business class seats on the non-stop CX HK flight is more comfortable but then you still have another layover plus 4+ hr flight south....which makes no sense at all.

And someone might even suggest TG non-stop to Bkk, then connect to Singapore: again doesn't make sense.

Take the non-stop and you wont' regret it. A couple of movies, one meal and solid 6-8 hrs shut-eye and boom, touch-down at the crack of dawn to start a new day :)