The Complete Guide to Singapore Airlines Premium Economy

Singapore Airlines is relatively new to the Premium Economy space, having only offered the product onboard since 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 longstanding shorthand for the airline) can look forward to comfortable service, with a couple of the more important bells and whistles of business class.

What to know about Singapore Airlines premium economy

Premium Economy is available on widebody aircraft serving longhaul 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 onward to shorthaul 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 Premium Economy onboard the Airbus A350-900 from San Francisco to Singapore, and in Economy onboard the 737-800 to Penang.

How Singapore Airlines premium economy compares to regular economy 

Singapore’s Premium Economy experience is much closer to Economy than to Business. Seats are larger with more space, and passengers will benefit from a larger screen and noise-cancelling headphones instead of earbuds. The meal is virtually the same, with the same crockery–with one important difference. 

How Singapore Airlines premium economy compares to business class 

Business Class on the longhaul flights on which Premium Economy is offered is a noteworthy experience with significantly elevated space including lie-flat seats, and renowned catering served serially in courses on china with linen-dressed trays. There is one Business Class feature that is found in Premium Economy, which will be discussed in the “Meals” section.

>> Read more about Singapore Airlines business class

Examples of real flight deals we've found for Going members in Singapore Airlines premium economy

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

The Singapore Airlines premium economy experience at the airport 

Lounge

Singapore Airlines Premium Economy does not include lounge access. 

Check-in

Premium Economy passengers have a dedicated check-in line. Check-in is a standard process involving verification of travel documents, seat selection and baggage check. 

Baggage

For itineraries originating in the United States and Canada, Singapore Airlines uses the piece concept, allowing Premium Economy passengers to check two bags up to 50 pounds / 23 kilos each. This is the same checked baggage allowance as for Economy Class, and less than the 32 kilo / 70 pound allowance per bag for Business Class. 

Checked Baggage is priority-tagged for Premium Economy passengers, the same as Business Class. Premium Economy passengers have the same carryon bag allowance as Economy passengers–one bag up to 15 pounds / 7 kilos.

The Singapore Airlines premium economy experience in the air

Seats

The Premium Economy seat is the same on each aircraft–the only variation is where on the aircraft it’s located. The seat is 19” wide with 38” of pitch, roughly equivalent to domestic first class in the United States. A water bottle is placed at each seat, and the meal tray at each seat is stowed in the arm rest. There’s a large, 13.5” LCD screen for entertainment with a separate handset, and a leg and foot rest that deploys from the bottom of the seat. The seat configuration on all aircraft is 2-4-2.

• 777-300ER: The Premium Economy cabin is located in Zone 3, behind the overwing set of doors. Lavatories are aft through the Economy cabin.
• A350-900: The Premium Economy cabin is located in Zone 3, in the middle of the wing section. Lavatories are after through the Economy cabin. 
• A350-900ULR: The Premium Economy cabin is offered in lieu of Economy on this ultra long range aircraft, with 94 Premium Economy seats behind the Business Class cabin. The last three rows of window seats are single seats with direct aisle access.
• A380: On most configurations of the A380, the Premium Economy cabin is in Zone 2 on the Main Deck, behind First Class. On these aircraft, lavatories are aft, through the Economy section. On some A380s, First Class is on the Upper Deck, and Premium Economy occupies Zone 1 on the Main Deck. On these aircraft, lavatories are at the aft of the Premium Economy cabin. 

Benefits

The Premium Economy cabin is smaller and more intimate than the Economy cabin, offering more privacy and less noise. The seat is also significantly larger, with more space and recline, although unlike on some other carriers offering Premium Economy cabins, there is not an increase in baggage allowance or significant differences in dining or amenities. Singapore Airlines offers 

Amenities are the same as Economy Class: an amenity kit with socks, lip balm, and a dental kit are provided upon request. Passengers can also ask for sleep masks or earplugs. Passengers will find mouthwash, skin moisturizers, cologne and after-shave lotion in the lavatories.

Meals

Meals are served on a single tray, and are virtually identical to those served in Economy, with one big difference: Premium Economy passengers have their own version of the airline’s famous “Book The Cook” service, which allows them to pre-order specific entrees up to 24 hours (on flights departing from most cities) prior to departure. 

Passengers departing from Los Angeles, for example, can choose from a spiced cauliflower steak, croque madame (for breakfast), Lu Rou Fan (five spice pork belly), pork congee, or katsu curry for their main dish. Premium Economy passengers also have a choice of a third main dish onboard, in addition to the two offered in the Economy cabin. 

Entree choices from a recent flight included peanut curry beef, baked fish, or braised chicken with noodles. It’s worth noting that unlike many other carriers, Singapore Airlines typically does not include a vegetarian main dish on the regular menu (except on flight to India) so passengers preferring a vegetarian meal should order a special meal or use the Book The Cook service (which typically includes at least one vegetarian main dish). 

In addition to Book The Cook, Premium Economy passengers can preselect a main dish off the inflight menu, which can be viewed in their reservation about a week prior to departure.

Alcohol

Like in Economy Class, a full bar is available throughout the flight. A favorite cocktail onboard is the Singapore Sling, a mix of gin, benedictine, orange liqueur, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, bitters, and grenadine that is regarded as Singapore’s national drink. Singapore’s Tiger brand beer is also poured onboard, otherwise the alcohol and wine selection is broadly international. 

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). Roundtrips 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 of Singapore Airlines 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, e-mailing passengers with an e-mail 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 - $1200 or so.

How many miles to upgrade to Singapore Airlines premium economy? 

Members of the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program can 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 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 North America.

Summary

Premium economy products can range from those more similar to Economy Class to those more similar to domestic First Class in the United States. Singapore Airlines Premium Economy is closer to the Economy end, although 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.

Read more about premium economy

• Lufthansa premium economy‍
• Air Canada premium economy
• British Airways premium economy
• SAS premium economy