Is Singapore Airlines premium economy worth it on the Airbus A350?

Fast take: One of many world’s main airways delivers a formidable step up from financial system, however there’s nonetheless some minor room for enchancment.

Execs

• Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) stays a incredible floor expertise for passengers.
• The small and intimate cabin accommodates simply 24 seats with large seats and beneficiant legroom.
• Champagne is out there, and hearty meals are served on stunning ceramic plates.

Cons

• Passengers do not get predeparture drinks, and throughout the flight, drinks are provided in plastic and paper cups.
• There aren’t any devoted crew or loos for premium financial system.
• Money costs are at the very least twice the value of financial system.

Can one of many world’s greatest airways ship a premium financial system that is as much as snuff?

Singapore Airways is famend across the globe for its passenger expertise, from its award-winning hub at SIN to its gifted cabin crew of their iconic sarong kebaya uniforms (launched some 50 years in the past). The airline has a widespread route community, together with the world’s longest flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to SIN, in addition to various fifth-freedom routes throughout the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Rising up in Adelaide, South Australia, Singapore Airways was one of many solely worldwide airways flying to my hometown of round 1 million individuals.

I’ve flown Singapore Airways extra instances than I can depend since I used to be a child, and to date, I’ve by no means had a nasty flight with the storied service.

The airline not too long ago upgraded its premium economy product to incorporate enhanced eating and new amenity kits, investing in what has turn into an increasingly popular class of service. So, I made a decision to strive the product on its new route from SIN to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) on its Airbus A350.

Here is what the expertise was like.

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The brand new LGW service enhances the service’s present 4 each day flights to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Listed here are the ranges of airfare and award redemptions I might discover in all three cabins on this route over the subsequent 12 months.

Fortunately, KrisFlyer miles are straightforward to earn and redeem. Singapore Airways does not provide a cobranded bank card within the U.S. Nonetheless, the airline companions with a number of main transferable rewards applications, together with American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, all at a 1:1 switch ratio.

The next playing cards all at the moment provide sturdy welcome bonuses that you might simply convert to KrisFlyer miles:

For those who’re departing from SIN, do not miss The Jewel waterfall outdoors of safety in Terminal 3. It is a spectacular, free-to-visit indoor rainforest so in style that other airports seem to have taken inspiration.

A premium financial system ticket on Singapore Airways (whether or not booked with money or KrisFlyer miles) contains free seat choice and — for flights to and from North America — two checked luggage weighing as much as 50 kilos every. For flights to different locations, premium financial system fares embody one checked bag that may weigh as much as 77 kilos.

As you may anticipate, the airline has an enormous check-in space at its residence hub in Terminal 3. There are many self-service kiosks and manned counters; premium financial system passengers have devoted check-in areas.

I anticipated the precedence check-in space to be straightforward to search out and grand just like the one Emirates offers at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Nonetheless, all premium financial system passengers had been relegated to simply two check-in counters in row 9 — the identical quantity given to cabin crew checking baggage earlier than signing on. Whereas there was no line to examine in, I used to be stunned at how low-key this precedence check-in space was provided that the airline operates premium financial system on most long-haul routes and pitches it as an elevated expertise.

It is easy to see why SIN is constantly awarded because the world’s greatest airport. It feels extra like a luxurious shopping center than an airport terminal because of its noise-reducing carpeting, quite a few shiny boutiques and plentiful actions to entertain kids and adults. It even features a butterfly backyard and a free 24-hour movie show.

Regardless of being busy with a financial institution of European flights all leaving round midnight, the terminal felt spacious and peaceable — not phrases I’d often use to explain an airport.

SIN’s Terminal 3 is exclusive as a result of passengers clear safety on the gate relatively than simply after check-in. In my case, gates A1 by way of A8 shared a single, giant safety checkpoint.

Whereas premium financial system passengers weren’t provided a precedence safety queue, the method was easy, calm and environment friendly.

Only some flights had been departing from the massive eight-gate house at this late hour, so lots of of seats (full with charging factors) had been accessible for passengers ready to board.

Workers referred to as boarding by group numbers and instructed passengers to stay seated till their group was referred to as.

Premium financial system passengers boarded by way of the identical lane as financial system however had been referred to as to board with Group 3 (together with KrisFlyer Gold and Star Alliance Gold members). Common financial system passengers boarded afterward in Group 4.

With a 13-hour in a single day flight forward of us, no person appeared in an enormous rush to board and begin sitting, which made for an orderly course of.

How comfy was premium financial system on Singapore Airways?

	Economic system	Premium financial system	Enterprise class
Structure	3-3-3	2-4-2	1-2-1
Seat pitch	32 inches	38 inches	60 inches (78 inches in mattress mode)
Seat recline	6 inches	8 inches	Absolutely flat
Seat width	17.3 inches	19 inches	28 inches
Display screen measurement	11.1 inches	13.3 inches	18 inches

The premium financial system cabin was surprisingly small, with simply 24 seats unfold throughout three rows straight behind the second luxurious business-class cabin.

The entrance row seats in row 31 have a bit additional legroom because of the bulkhead in entrance; they’re an particularly good selection if touring as a pair — though you will not have the ability to stow a private merchandise in entrance of you.

At 6 ft tall, I discovered the legroom in row 32 beneficiant, and I had a bit extra private house than in financial system.

The small measurement of the cabin had each positives and negatives.

Whereas intimate and unique, it additionally felt a bit cramped, with partitions at the back and front. For instance, there was no solution to transfer throughout from one aisle to the opposite with out going midway again by way of the financial system cabin behind.

The correct facet armrest had buttons to manually recline the seatback and come out the legrest.

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Quite than a footrest folding out from the underside of the legrest, the footrest got here down from the seat within the entrance. The seatback in entrance was additionally outfitted with a big and durable literature pocket together with a water bottle holder; this was already stocked with a bottle of water for every premium financial system passenger.

There was a common energy outlet for every seat within the heart armrest, a USB-A port subsequent to the inflight leisure display screen and one other subsequent to the headphone jack between the seats.

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Sadly, this contemporary A350 plane didn’t have USB-C ports, wi-fi charging or Bluetooth connectivity.

A tray desk that popped out of the armrest was giant and durable sufficient for a full-size MacBook.

I additionally appreciated the adjustable studying mild subsequent to the headrest; it was helpful for studying the menu with out disturbing passengers making an attempt to relaxation on this in a single day flight.

Facilities in Singapore Airways premium financial system

A pillow and a blanket wrapped in plastic had been ready on every seat when passengers boarded.

Each objects had been plush and bigger than you’ll anticipate to obtain in financial system.

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The service additionally offered respectable over-ear noise-canceling headphones — one other luxurious perk that made this long-haul flight extra comfy.

One of many enhancements the airline has promoted in premium financial system this 12 months is a brand new amenity equipment by the model Out of the Woods. I did not take care of the crumpled bag it got here in (just like Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy amenity kit), and the contents — slippers, a watch masks and an airline-branded lip balm — had been pretty primary. It was higher than nothing, although.

Extra spectacular was the massive, crisp seatback touchscreen.

It was full of 43 new releases, together with “Kung Fu Panda 4”, “Arthur the King” and “Dune: Half Two.” I loved watching “Ricky Stanicky” — a foolish however humorous solution to cross the time to London.

If I hadn’t needed to lean ahead to faucet the display screen, I might use the hand-held distant that popped out of the middle armrest console to regulate the display screen.

There was limitless Wi-Fi at no cost for KrisFlyer members in all cabins. Whereas this initially appeared like an expensive perk, my varied assessments of the speeds all through the flight by no means registered greater than a poor 2 Mbps obtain or 1 Mbps add. I rapidly gave up on utilizing it.

Given the small cabin — simply three rows — it wasn’t stunning that there have been no devoted loos for premium financial system passengers. Nonetheless, it was a bit disappointing. As an alternative, 5 loos had been shared with the financial system cabin behind, and there have been common traces to make use of them.

They had been stored clear however had been tight to maneuver round in.

How was the meals in Singapore Airways premium financial system?

I used to be stunned that I didn’t obtain a welcome drink throughout the boarding course of, as that is widespread in premium financial system on different carriers — particularly ones as properly considered Singapore Airways.

I used to be provided a scorching towel that I gladly accepted after the sticky tropical warmth of Singapore.

Shortly after takeoff, the crew distributed printed menus and started serving dinner.

Since I used to be flying in premium financial system, I might have used the airline’s Book The Cook service. This could have allowed me to select from a a lot bigger number of entree dishes, offered I had chosen it on-line greater than 24 hours prematurely.

Whereas Guide the Prepare dinner is an superior perk accessible to passengers in premium financial system and above, I made a decision to stay with the common menu to strive what most different passengers can be consuming.

Given how lengthy the flight was, I had anticipated the primary service to be extended a bit; I imagined I’d obtain a spherical of drinks or maybe a drink with some combined nuts earlier than dinner. Nonetheless, the employees served the primary meal rapidly after takeoff. I assume due to the late departure hour, this methodology allowed friends to eat rapidly after which get some relaxation.

I used to be excited to strive the not too long ago enhanced eating choices, and there have been some hits and misses. I used to be pleasantly stunned to see Charles de Cazanove Brunt NV Champagne, which retails for round $38 per bottle on the bottom. Correct Champagne in premium financial system, versus glowing wine, was an actual deal with; nevertheless, I want that they had served it in glassware relatively than a plastic tumbler.

For dinner, there was a smoked salmon salad appetizer together with simply two entree course choices:

• Pork fricassee with lentils, lyonnaise potatoes, blanched broccolini and roast carrots
• Kuay teow neua (Thai braised beef noodles with beef meatballs and braised beef)

Dinner got here with cheese, crackers and garlic bread on the facet, and dessert was a chocolate orange cake with raspberry compote.

The meal was served on a single tray, and the whole lot regarded moderately properly introduced. Nonetheless, I want they eliminated the plastic and foil covers earlier than handing the trays to the passengers.

I used to be anticipating a 3rd important entree choice — maybe vegetarian or one thing with out pork or purple meat (which some clients keep away from).

I selected the meat noodles, they usually had been glorious. The meat was juicy, and the noodles had been correctly cooked with out sticking collectively.

The attractive ceramic crockery was an actual step above financial system class, and steel cutlery is at all times welcome.

The complete dinner service was quick: It was totally cleared inside 90 minutes of departure. This gave passengers loads of time to relaxation on the best way to London.

Snacks — together with sandwiches, contemporary fruit, muffins, nuts and chips — had been accessible from the rear galley between meal providers. I slept for many of the flight, so I did not do that out.

Resulting from a recent turbulence incident, Singapore Airways is taking an additional cautious strategy to meal service. Meals aren’t served wherever alongside the flight path the place pilots see a possible for turbulence, so breakfast occurred lots ahead of regular. It was served three hours earlier than arriving in London, with some bumpier climate anticipated a bit nearer to touchdown.

Breakfast included strawberry yogurt with contemporary fruit, a croissant and a selection of tea, espresso or juice with two entree choices:

• Vegetarian omelet with grilled mushroom, baked tomato, garlic and wilted greens
• Chai tow kueh (a savory fried carrot cake with prawns and preserved turnips)

Once more, I used to be stunned to not see a 3rd choice on the menu. The meal was all served on one tray.

Based mostly on the flight attendant’s suggestion, I selected the Singaporean carrot cake entree. I wasn’t fairly positive what to anticipate, nevertheless it was scrumptious. It was a hearty seafood-forward dish with a scrumptious spicy sauce that stuffed me up for the remaining three hours of the flight.

I do want the juice and scorching drink had been served in correct glassware or ceramic mugs relatively than plastic and paper cups. That is a straightforward solution to make a premium financial system expertise really feel extra elegant.

Identical to on each different Singapore Airways flight I’ve taken, the crew on my premium financial system flight to London was polished, skilled and welcoming. Their rigorous coaching was evident. No request was an excessive amount of hassle, and the whole lot was delivered graciously with a heat smile.

The hospitality is extra formal; the crew members in all probability will not crack many jokes or interact in a lot frivolous small speak. However that stated, it is unlikely you will discover a unhealthy crew member in your subsequent Singapore Airways flight.

Emirates and KLM stay essentially the most spectacular premium financial system merchandise I’ve flown, however Singapore Airways would in all probability simply scrape its means into the highest 5.

Because it tends to be at the very least twice the value of an already glorious financial system product, I’d in all probability be joyful to stay with financial system class on my subsequent flight to Singapore. Nonetheless, if you could find a barely cheaper upcharge over financial system — both with money or miles — you then may be assured it is a comfy solution to journey on one of many world’s greatest airways.