I flew 12 hours in Singapore Airlines' first class. Here's what the experience is really like — and whether it's worth it.

One of the highlights of Singapore Airlines' first class was the comfortable lie-flat seat.

David Morris

First class is meant to remove friction from travel, from the moment you arrive at the airport to the moment you land at your destination.On a recent flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo, I flew Singapore Airlines' first class to see how well it delivers on that promise.Widely regarded as one of the best first-class products in the world, it also comes with a steep price tag: one-way fares for this flight can exceed $14,000. In my case, though, I booked using credit-card points I'd transferred to the airline and paid just $5.60 in taxes for my ticket. Having flown first class with several international carriers, I was particularly curious to see how Singapore Airlines would compare.

The elevated experience began before I'd even cleared security.

I was personally escorted through the airport.