Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Review: What I Loved and Didn't

Singapore Airlines launched its premium economy cabin in 2015. Many premium economy products tend to hover somewhere between economy and business class, and Singapore’s premium economy is no exception.

That said, Singapore Airlines is known for high-quality service across all cabins, so premium economy passengers on SIA (a shorthand for the airline) can look forward to comfortable service, with a couple of the more luxurious bells and whistles akin to business class.

What to know about Singapore Airlines premium economy

Premium economy is available on widebody aircraft serving long-haul markets. Some flights on shorter routes within Asia that continue onward to farther destinations may also be operated with aircraft outfitted with premium economy cabins. 

Passengers connecting to short-haul flights without premium economy cabins will be booked in economy class on those flights. For example, passengers traveling from San Francisco to Penang, Malaysia, will travel in Singapore Airlines premium economy A350 onboard the Airbus A350-900 from San Francisco to Singapore, and in economy onboard the 737-800 to Penang.

How it compares to regular economy

Singapore’s premium economy experience is closer to economy than to business. Seats are larger with more space, and passengers will benefit from a larger screen and noise-canceling headphones instead of earbuds. The meal is virtually the same, but there are some slight differences. 

How it compares to business class

Business class on the long-haul flights is a noteworthy experience with a significantly elevated space, including lie-flat seats, and renowned catering served serially in courses on china with linen-dressed trays. 

→ Read more about Singapore Airlines business class.

Singapore Airlines premium economy at a glance

Is Singapore Airlines' premium economy worth it?

It's worth it on long-haul flights but less so on short ones. The extra pitch, wider seat, calf-rest, and better meals add up on sectors long enough for those differences to matter, but they matter far less on a short daytime flight. The clearest case is any overnight where the alternative is 10-plus hours in a 32-inch economy seat.

→ For a look at other premium economy cabins, see our roundup of the best airlines for international premium economy. 

The premium economy experience at the airport

Do you get lounge access?

No, and this is the most common misconception. Singapore Airlines premium economy does not include lounge access on any fare tier. The only way in is elite status, specifically KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS Club, or Star Alliance Gold. The seat improves your onboard ride, not your time before the flight. 

Priority check-in and boarding

Here, the cabin does deliver. Premium economy includes priority check-in at dedicated counters, priority baggage handling, and boarding ahead of the main cabin. It's a small thing, but on a busy departure it saves time and stress. 

Baggage allowance: how many bags you get

Premium economy comes with a 35 kg (about 77 lb) checked allowance versus 30 kg (about 66 lb) on economy standard and flex fares and 25 kg (about 55 lb) on the cheaper economy tiers. You also get the standard two carry-on items up to 7 kg (about 15 lb) total. It's a modest bump, so if you pack heavy, weigh it against the fare.

The premium economy experience in the air

Seats, legroom, and recline

The seat is one of the more compelling reasons to book premium economy. It offers 38 inches of pitch, an 18.5- to 19.5-inch width depending on the aircraft, and an 8-inch recline, with built-in calf and footrests and dedicated nooks for your phone, passport, and water bottle.

The recline uses a cradle mechanism that slides the seat pan forward, so you get a more relaxed angle without crushing the person behind you. The calf-and-foot support is one of the biggest comfort wins for over economy.

Meals and Book the Cook

Premium economy passengers can pre-order a main from the Book the Cook menu (from six weeks out up to 24 hours before departure), and meals arrive plated on porcelain with an appetizer, bread, and dessert. 

Drinks

The beverage service is a clear notch above economy. Champagne is served after takeoff and throughout the flight alongside an upgraded all-round drinks selection.

It's not the endless business-class pour, but it's generous and well-timed with meals.

Can you sleep in premium economy?

Somewhat, but manage expectations. The seat doesn't lie flat, so it's not business-class sleep. That said, on the roughly 18- to 19-hour nonstop between New York and Singapore, the extra pitch, recline, and leg support make the flight more restful, with room for a good stretch of sleep between the three meal services. Bring your own eye mask and a neck pillow, and you'll do fine on even the longest routes. 

Examples of flight deals we've found for Going members

Premium economy to Asia rarely feels cheap at list price, which is where deal-hunting pays off. 

• LA to Mumbai for $1,199 roundtrip
• Houston to Manchester for $998 roundtrip
• NYC to Kuala Lumpur for $1,098 roundtrip

What travelers say on Reddit

The opinions skew positive with a few consistent downsides. Travelers praise the seat width, the calf-and-footrest, Book the Cook, and Singapore's cabin service, which regularly gets called out as the best part of the flight.

The recurring criticisms are fair ones: It isn't lie-flat, so don't expect to sleep like you would up front, and on three-cabin routes the fare can creep close to business, so it's worth comparing before you book.

The nonstop A350-900ULR flights to and from New York get the warmest reviews, as premium economy is seen as the most comfortable way to survive the world’s longest flight (if business isn’t on the table).

How to book Singapore Airlines premium economy

How much does it cost for a premium economy ticket on Singapore Airlines?

Roundtrips from the West Coast to Singapore can go for as low as $1,400 roundtrip (the lower fares are often available on flights with stopovers instead of the nonstop flights to Singapore).

Roundtrip flights from New York’s JFK to Frankfurt, Germany (the flight continues onward to Singapore but also sells fares just for the transatlantic sector) start around $985.

How to upgrade to premium economy on Singapore Airlines for free

There's no reliable way to do it for free. Singapore Airlines does not upgrade passengers for free without a good reason, like overbooking. When they do need to upgrade passengers, members of the airline’s frequent flier programs KrisFlyer and PPS Club (their program-within-a-program for frequent first and business class flyers) are considered first.

How much does it cost to upgrade to premium economy on Singapore Airlines?

Singapore Airlines sells upgrades within 72 hours of the flight departure, emailing passengers with an email in their reservation, or allowing passengers to login to their reservation to check for offers.

Upgrade pricing varies, but reports online indicate upgrades to premium economy on transoceanic flights generally run from $500–$1,200 or so.

How many miles to upgrade to Singapore Airlines premium economy

Members of the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program may be able to upgrade from discount (Singapore Airlines calls this “standard”) economy to premium economy for as little as 26,000 miles from New York JFK to Frankfurt, 48,000 miles from Los Angeles to Tokyo, or 50,500 miles from San Francisco to Singapore.

Upgrades may be available from full fare (Singapore Airlines calls this “Flexi”) economy to premium economy for as little as 15,500 miles from New York JFK to Frankfurt, 33,000 miles from Los Angeles to Tokyo, or 33,500 miles from San Francisco to Singapore.

Star Alliance upgrade awards are not available on Singapore Airlines flights departing from North America.

→ Learn how to find and book mistake fares before they disappear.

Summary

Singapore Airlines premium economy is closer to the economy end, though the ability to pre-order a main dish and other niceties on top of Singapore’s already vaunted economy class service make this product stand out among its competitors.