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When flying on Singapore Airlines, is it worth paying to upgrade to Business Class from Premium Economy on long-haul flights?
James Parker Associated designs the Singapore Airlines Business Class cabin on the A350. This company also created the opulent interiors of the Orient Express, and is a mix of bronzy gold, beige, purple, and chocolate-brown colors with plush throw pillows that contrast with the dark leather seats. It is also a pretty special cabin. Singapore Airlines offers a relatively consistent cabin and Business Class product across most of its long-haul fleet.
Singapore Airlines has a prestigious reputation, offering great service, delicious food, excellent in-flight entertainment, and the always smiling Singapore air hostess, but do the additional extra choices and exclusive privileges make Singapore Airlines Business Class worth the extra cost over Premium Economy? Is it worth the extra cost to upgrade? Read on to find out…
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1. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Price
If the price is your biggest factor when deciding which class to fly in, you should choose to fly Premium Economy over Business Class. After all, the entire plane will reach its destination, whichever class you sit in.
Having said that, the lie-flat seat in Business Class makes the difference if you want a good night’s sleep. Even if the price is your biggest factor, getting a good night’s sleep in Business Class can save you from wasting a day of your holiday because you are overly tired, which may ultimately be worth more than the price difference.
How much more is Business Class than Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines? Business Class is typically 100% – 150% more expensive than flying in Premium Economy. Expect to pay more than double the price to fly in Business Class.
As an example, London to Singapore’s return in Premium Economy costs around £2,000 GBP, and the same route in Business costs around £4,000 GBP to £5,000 GBP. You may find cheaper rates in flash sales.
2. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Loyalty Program
In terms of loyalty programs, Singapore Airlines operates Kris Flyer, so if you are able to use these miles, this is a fairly good frequent flyer scheme. Obviously, you get more miles if you fly in Business Class than Premium Economy because you are spending more money.
With the recent devaluations of several frequent flyer programs, the sweet spot for redemptions is quickly becoming Business Class rather than First Class. Usually, the extra miles required to fly in First Class are significant, but the difference between Business Class and Premium Economy in miles, while still significant, offers reasonable value.
3. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Check-in & Hold Baggage
For many airlines, the First Class, Business Class, and often Premium Economy experience starts the moment you check-in. That’s especially true if you’re visiting one of the world’s best First or Business Class lounges.
From check-in to boarding and baggage handling, enjoy priority treatment throughout your journey if you are flying in Business Class or Premium Economy. First comes in top, but you still get most of the benefits in Business Class, and you still get prioritized over Economy in Premium Economy.
You get a 40kg luggage allowance when flying in Business Class (more if you are an elite member of their frequent flyer scheme), which compares to 35kg when traveling in Premium Economy (compared to 30kg in Economy).
4. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Lounges
Singapore Airlines offers excellent lounges and are some of the best lounges at Singapore airport. When flying in Premium Economy, you do not automatically get access to any Singapore Airlines lounges.
You can use your Priority Pass or pay to access airport lounges, but they won’t necessarily be the same Singapore Airlines lounges that Business Class passengers access. There is no advantage to flying Premium Economy in this respect, as neither Economy nor Premium Economy passengers can access the excellent Singapore Airlines Business and First Class airport lounges.
When flying in Business or First, you get access to the excellent Singapore Airlines Business and First Class airport lounges. While the First Class lounges ARE better, the Business Class lounges are good enough for most travelers and are still excellent. Business Class is, therefore, much better than Premium Economy in this respect, as you get airport lounge access included.
5. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Toilets
Singapore Airlines is way ahead of most other airlines with a stylish Asian color scheme in the cabin of warm browns. Business Class lavatories are good and exclusive to Business Class but are not as large or as special as the First Class bathrooms. Business Class toilets come complete with complimentary Lalique toiletries (e.g., special citrus-scented facial mist, body lotion, and fragrance).
Unfortunately, Premium Economy passengers share the same lavatories as Economy class passengers. Singapore Airlines toilets have free dental hygiene kits, combs, mouthwash, lotion, and perfume spray.
6. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Amenity Kit
It is worth noting that Singapore Airlines does not provide amenity kits to its Business Class passengers. Instead, they provide some items in their bathrooms. The only things waiting for Business Class passengers on their seats are a pair of slippers, compression socks, noise-canceling headphones, and a large pillow.
Premium Economy gets an amenity kit, which is meager but better than nothing. A zip case comes with a pair of socks and a dental hygiene kit.
7. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Seat
Singapore Airlines offers one of the most luxurious Business Class products of any airline on their double-decker A380. This product is known as suites, and it is famed for offering a double bed along with the Etihad Residence, as the only two double beds on a commercial airliner.
The Business Class seat on Singapore Airlines (SQ)is one of the widest in the industry and is the widest on Singapore Airlines’ A380 and B777 aircraft. The seat features a pitch of around 1,53 cm (60 inches) and a width of around 71 cm (20 inches). The suite’s walls are quite high, which gives you a decent level of privacy. While this seat is great, it is not nearly as good as the First Class Seat. The crucial difference between the Business Class and Premium Economy seat is that only the Business Class seat is lie flat.
The Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Seat is thoughtfully designed. They have included a calf-rest and foot-rest built right into your seat. For the ultimate snoozing position, just recline (up to a generous 8 inches), stretch out and enjoy the 38-inch seat pitch compared to 32 inches in Economy.
Again they have thought of pretty much everything in their Premium Economy cabins. There are two USB ports in each seat and a fully adjustable personal reading lamp, and a dedicated storage area for your water bottle, laptop, headphones, and other personal items.
For me, the extra elbow room in the Premium Economy seats enables me to work more comfortably on my laptop, making the width worth paying for over Economy, but Business Class is in a different league when compared to Premium Economy.
8. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: KrisWorld inflight entertainment
With contents thoughtfully curated, the KrisWorld inflight entertainment offers an impressive selection of 1,800 entertainment options with an impressive selection of 1,000 entertainment options, with tons and tons of movies, television programs, music, games, and apps.
The Business Class screen is an 18-inch (45 cm) LCD screen in front of each Business Class seat. In Premium Economy, the screen is a 13.3-inch HD-enabled touchscreen monitor with noise-canceling headphones.
On selected flights, you can also stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues with Internet connectivity, as well as text and multimedia messaging, whichever class you are flying in.
9. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Flight Attendants
Singapore Airlines flight attendants have the reputation of being attractive and are kind and helpful. They have certainly been trained better than many competitor airline flight attendants.
While Business Class feels a little more like you are being served food from an assembly line than First, the standard of service still excels when compared to Premium Economy.
10. Business Class Vs. Premium Economy: Food
Singapore Airlines enjoys an excellent culinary reputation and collaborates with world-acclaimed chefs who own Michelin-starred restaurants. The airline is famous for its ‘Book the Cook’ service, where you can select your gourmet main course from a premium selection of dishes at least 24 hours before departure.
First Class airline food is usually of restaurant quality. Business Class food is very good, but it is not the experience you will get in First Class. The food offered on my last Singapore Airlines Business Class flight was good but was delivered assembly-line style, and the meal was not an event. My choice on the 6-hour 15-minute flight was from an eat-anytime menu. You could order your meal shortly after takeoff or before landing.
The “Sleeper Service” overnight menu read as follows:
- Angus Beef Burger
- Selection of Shanghainese Dim Sum
- Fish Noodles Soup
- American Breakfast
- Continental Breakfast
- Fresh Fruit of the Season
- Assorted Bread Rolls & Breakfast Pastries
- Coffee & Tea
You can also reserve your main course from a variety of Premium Economy Book the Cook dishes up to 24 hours before you fly or select from three meal choices onboard. Match the food and altitude with your selection of wine or champagne, all for free, of course!
The food in Business Class and the drinks in Business Class are superior to Premium Economy if this is a dealbreaker, book Business Class.
Conclusion
Singapore Airlines Business Class is a brilliant product, one of the best in the skies, and worth paying the extra if you can afford it. Most of us can’t and will fly Economy or Premium Economy.
It is worth remembering that Business Class products out there nowadays, which feature direct aisle access, are arguably better than First Class 10 years ago. Business Class is excellent on Singapore Airlines.
For those of us with more meager wallets, Premium Economy beats Economy and is still a treat.
Below, you will find our most recent flight reviews on Singapore Airlines in Business and First Class:
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