Singapore Airlines Premium Economy - opinion

[ozjuice]

Singapore Airlines Premium Economy

Just arranged for my wife to fly BNE to LHR via Singapore in PE. I’ve never flown PE myself on SQ but thought it would be good to upgrade her for the very long haul flight.
Hoping she would enjoy the flight I was very disappointed to hear that the whole experience was rather average at best. Yes the seat is more comfortable and the food is great, but apart from that not very good at all.
She’s not tall and she’s 60-65 Kg’s. But to hear she had to sit sideways to stretch her legs was ridiculous. Then there was no separation at all between economy and she had to queue to share the same toilet as them. Overall just a waste of money it seems. Will try Etihad next time if not someone totally different. $3500.00 wasted really.

 

[Denali]

When PE was newly released, my boss and his wife flew it and had the same complaints and was very disappointed.

 

[bam71]

You mean Etihad Y? They don't have premium economy .....

 

[ozjuice]

You mean Etihad Y? They don't have premium economy .....

Wasn't really looking into the detail but i guess you've answered that one for me. Perhaps it will have to be someone else then. In fact even SQ only fly part way in PE anyway.

 

[NZflygirl]

I usually go by the online pics combined with you tube videos when wondering whether or not a new product is worth trying. SQ being SQ I sort of expect a lot I guess and I don't think the PE pics are enticing enough to pay for it, but when something's "free" ie points + charges then my idea of value changes and I may well opt to try it one day. But for now while there's a few points accumulating I'm going to aim for a sector in Suites and then back to J. Unfortunately I have no immediate plans or even near future plans to be flying SQ long haul.

 

[Dalescott]

Yes I agree, Mrs Dalescott and I have flown CX PE twice. The shared toilet is an issue, I believe that some of CX B777 have a toilet in PE, but not all. I spoke to the plane flight Manager about this, and he said it is the big issue with regards to PE. What I did was use the J class toilet, I didn't get asked once to stop. For me PE is to dear, for what you get, and at $3500+ and bear in mind that QF are making over $4500 for their PE. You are not getting valve for money, we paid $2826, and $2950 when we used CX PE. It is not worth $3500 to share a toilet with economy.

 

[under the radar]

Yes I agree, Mrs Dalescott and I have flown CX PE twice. The shared toilet is an issue, I believe that some of CX B777 have a toilet in PE, but not all. I spoke to the plane flight Manager about this, and he said it is the big issue with regards to PE. What I did was use the J class toilet, I didn't get asked once to stop. For me PE is to dear, for what you get, and at $3500+ and bear in mind that QF are making over $4500 for their PE. You are not getting valve for money, we paid $2826, and $2950 when we used CX PE. It is not worth $3500 to share a toilet with economy.

'value for money' is all relative to someone's PERSONAL circumstances. Opinions are fine, but don't lump others into YOUR 'issues'. Just sayin'

 

[bjm76]

I have not tried SQ PE, but I have flown both QF PE and CX PE (a few times each). QF PE is much better than CX, but CX is quite acceptable and I have managed to sleep in CX PE on an overnight flight from HKG to SYD (in a bulkhead seat though). I am 6'4" (194cm) tall and of a large build, so PE means I am at least "comfortable" on a long-haul flight, which is rarely the case in whY.

Can't recall he toilet issue on CX, but the food and service on CX is not as good as on QF. QF really is a "business lite" product and worth the money when you can get it on sale. Plus the higher SCs helps when chasing status.
Recent sale had QF PE from SYD/MEL to LHR for $3,300 and $3,500 early next year (companion sale so sadly not suitable for solo travellers) which is great value I think for those flights. About the same price as a fully flexible whY ticket.

 

[Milboo]

I've flown it twice on SQ, including last week.

Personally I think the NZ PE is much better but the SQ one is certainly better than flying Y.

Im surprised to hear the comment re being sideways to stretch legs. I am average height and certainly had more than enough room for my legs without needing to do this (and I weigh more than her).

Food offering was good and there is limited Book the Cook options too. Better headphones too.

There is the bulkhead between PE and Y - my tip is to sit forward in the cabin to avoid the dreaded bassinet row at the bulkhead.

No issues with using the Y toilet - did not expect to use first one (based on A380 config) - and did not expect them to have put in PE loos!

My biggest gripe is the gap between the window seat and the wall - means no leaning possible. If you take the middle 2 seats in middle block then the armrest lifts.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Singapore Airlines Premium Economy

Just arranged for my wife to fly BNE to LHR via Singapore in PE. I’ve never flown PE myself on SQ but thought it would be good to upgrade her for the very long haul flight.
Hoping she would enjoy the flight I was very disappointed to hear that the whole experience was rather average at best. Yes the seat is more comfortable and the food is great, but apart from that not very good at all.
She’s not tall and she’s 60-65 Kg’s. But to hear she had to sit sideways to stretch her legs was ridiculous. Then there was no separation at all between economy and she had to queue to share the same toilet as them. Overall just a waste of money it seems. Will try Etihad next time if not someone totally different. $3500.00 wasted really.

your report sums up many opinions readily available on the web. It's not a product I would pay for for a long haul flight (not just SQ, but most airlines. The value isn't great).

Not sure about having to sit sideways - that is odd. No other reports of that anywhere. It's pretty much a standard seating configuration of 38 inch pitch.

For the same price ($3500) and with a little planning you could easily get economy class flights BNE to Singapore and then full business class from SIN to Europe. Including flat beds. It won't have the same advantage of a through connection - separate tickets means you'd have to build in allowances for a longer connection time in singapore, but perhaps worth it to arrive after a good sleep.

 

[davidj]

For the right price its great.

You can sleep a lot better, stretch legs fine, and recline is okay. Cabin is smaller so less nosier (and less likelihood of kids/babies). Better in seat screens. You get served meals first.

Not sure about the toilet arrangements as some have noted here, but if this really bothers you, suggest you move to business or first if you won't want to mingle with economy pax.

If you go in expecting business class sure you will be disappointed.

 

[ozjuice]

your report sums up many opinions readily available on the web. It's not a product I would pay for for a long haul flight (not just SQ, but most airlines. The value isn't great).

Not sure about having to sit sideways - that is odd. No other reports of that anywhere. It's pretty much a standard seating configuration of 38 inch pitch.

For the same price ($3500) and with a little planning you could easily get economy class flights BNE to Singapore and then full business class from SIN to Europe. Including flat beds. It won't have the same advantage of a through connection - separate tickets means you'd have to build in allowances for a longer connection time in singapore, but perhaps worth it to arrive after a good sleep.

Well i have flown PE on VA and it was actually very nice. I really enjoyed it over Economy, but the price hike really isn't worth it if you're honest with yourself. That's a lot of extra money for a small amount of extra seat and a nice meal. I'd be interested to see how you'd get even close to J on that route for the price though. Remember the flight Brisbane to Singapore was in Y. There is no PE on SQ. The idea was to make my wife more comfortable which she was....but i was a little surprised by the space and the toilets etc. Apparently she was at the back of PE and said she had good recline but maybe the bulkhead offset the legroom.

 

[ozjuice]

For the right price its great.

You can sleep a lot better, stretch legs fine, and recline is okay. Cabin is smaller so less nosier (and less likelihood of kids/babies). Better in seat screens. You get served meals first.

Not sure about the toilet arrangements as some have noted here, but if this really bothers you, suggest you move to business or first if you won't want to mingle with economy pax.

If you go in expecting business class sure you will be disappointed.

Certainly wasn't expecting Bus class but was expecting Premium....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well i have flown PE on VA and it was actually very nice. I really enjoyed it over Economy, but the price hike really isn't worth it if you're honest with yourself. That's a lot of extra money for a small amount of extra seat and a nice meal. I'd be interested to see how you'd get even close to J on that route for the price though. Remember the flight Brisbane to Singapore was in Y. There is no PE on SQ. The idea was to make my wife more comfortable which she was....but i was a little surprised by the space and the toilets etc. Apparently she was at the back of PE and said she had good recline but maybe the bulkhead offset the legroom.

So my suggestion was in relation to a mixed class booking, two separate tickets. Your choice of carrier in economy class BNE to SIN, followed by a separate business class ticket on a choice of a few carriers from SIN to Europe. Qatar, Vietnam Airlines, Sri Lankan, Finnair - all of them quite regularly discount business class from Asia and you'd be looking in the $2200-$2800 range (return). So that combined with your BNE-SIN you'd be comfortably in the $3500 range. But - it is separate tickets, so you need to allow plenty of time to connect in SIN in case the flights are delayed (you can't rely on a 60 or 120 minute connection).

All of those carriers have full flat beds on the long haul flights. Plus lounge access and whatever else. Most of Europe is covered.

 

[ozjuice]

Hmmm.....well next time i guess i will have to certainly consider that option as it seems a much better way to go. All the flights i saw in J were double that price to LHR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm.....well next time i guess i will have to certainly consider that option as it seems a much better way to go. All the flights i saw in J were double that price to LHR.

The specials ex Asia (BKK is usually cheaper than SIN, but perhaps harder to get to from BNE?) vary through the year. Googleflights is a good way to pick them up. Vietnam Airlines has a standard fare for AUD2800 ex SIN, with their brand new A350 operating the leg from Vietnam to Paris, or the 787 to Frankfurt (both flat beds). I picked a random date in February for that price. Cheaper when there is a sale.

London will be slightly more expensive because of the luxury departure tax. You can avoid that by flying out of the continent (flying in to London doesn't affect the price)

 

[ozjuice]

The specials ex Asia (BKK is usually cheaper than SIN, but perhaps harder to get to from BNE?) vary through the year. Googleflights is a good way to pick them up. Vietnam Airlines has a standard fare for AUD2800 ex SIN, with their brand new A350 operating the leg from Vietnam to Paris, or the 787 to Frankfurt (both flat beds). I picked a random date in February for that price. Cheaper when there is a sale.

London will be slightly more expensive because of the luxury departure tax. You can avoid that by flying out of the continent (flying in to London doesn't affect the price)

LHR is the base i'm afraid...so no option. But will look much harder next time she flies solo. Lucky she goes J when with me! ;-) Thanks for your feedback though.

 

[petercr]

Managed to get (as part of a cruise package) SYD-SIN-LHR in early April and ZUR-SIN-SYD in early May in PE for $2850pp... Decided to stump up an extra $286pp for BNE-SYD-BNE so we didn't have to go Y between BNE and SIN (and vice versa). Worked out to be an extra $1650pp to upgrade based on the standard package.

 

[daft009]

I really enjoyed the SQ PE experience, seat and food via book the cook was great!

Flew to Munich from Sydney and return, and got plenty of sleep so that's a huge plus from me.

Will definitely go PE again if flying to Europe, not worth paying extra for business in my opinion.

Toilet sharing was a non issue. Really enjoyed the calf support in the seat, think it made all the difference!

PS: hi Pete!☺

 

[oztraveller]

'value for money' is all relative to someone's PERSONAL circumstances. Opinions are fine, but don't lump others into YOUR 'issues'. Just sayin'

A bit harsh "under the radar" .. Dalescott was indeed expressing his personal opinion based on his circumstances.