SQ Premium Economy - Preliminary Thoughts
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: OZ Platinum LifeTime; DL PM; QF Gold; VA Gold; HH Diamond; IHG Diamond
Posts: 1,128
SQ Premium Economy - Preliminary Thoughts
I flew the new SQ Premium Economy on the SYD-SIN and SIN-SYD legs of my recent trip. They were on the A380 where the PE seats have an extra inch of space compared to the 777-300ER.
I took some photos, but they don't really add anything more than what you can see on the PE page on the Singapore Airlines website, so I haven't bothered to upload them here. If people want them, I can add them later. I sat in 31K, which is the very first row.
These are my preliminary thoughts.
1. Hard product is not bad.
The seat itself isn't bad, but in my opinion, not really worth the extra over Y. I would rather pay the significant difference to fly J. You cannot sleep in these seats, and in that regard, not significantly different to a Y seat. I was hoping the legrest would be helpful, but is almost next to useless. The swingdown footrest means that your thighs are raised slightly above the seat cushion itself unless you're the shortest of passengers. This means that much of your leg weight rests where your feet come in to contact with the footrest bar, and starts to hurt and ache after a while. Meanwhile, the legrest section is quite short, meaning it doesn't really feel comfortable to use without the footrest swung down.
Also, the legrest and seat recline controls are not electronic, and you have wrestle a bit with the seat recline to get it to work.
The IFE screen is lovely, and the IFE seems much faster in responding to the remote control than I've previously noticed.
2. Finish quality of the new PE seat installations is poor.
There are gaps in the plastic lining on the side of the plane. The carpet between the bulkhead and floor was coming apart.
3. Soft product is no different to economy.
There is no toilet in the cabin - you can't use the one for the first suites (obviously), and the using the toilets means the usual wait in line.
FAs interaction with passengers is more like J than Y, which is a good thing.
However, food is terrible. The food is basically Y food. The only difference is the tablecloth covering the usual plastic tray.
Amenities kit is the same as for Y but in a different colour.
All in all, for a night time flight, PE is not worth the difference. Food is the same, seat is the same in that you won't be able to sleep. Either save your money, or spend more for J.
For a day time flight, PE might work for you. I found the features of the seat that were meant to make it more comfortable somewhat unfulfilling. The footrest was the most uncomfortable I've used in a plane, and actually hurt after a while (I take my shoes off in flights).
On a random note, a brazen request which I found hilarious...
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
I took some photos, but they don't really add anything more than what you can see on the PE page on the Singapore Airlines website, so I haven't bothered to upload them here. If people want them, I can add them later. I sat in 31K, which is the very first row.
These are my preliminary thoughts.
1. Hard product is not bad.
The seat itself isn't bad, but in my opinion, not really worth the extra over Y. I would rather pay the significant difference to fly J. You cannot sleep in these seats, and in that regard, not significantly different to a Y seat. I was hoping the legrest would be helpful, but is almost next to useless. The swingdown footrest means that your thighs are raised slightly above the seat cushion itself unless you're the shortest of passengers. This means that much of your leg weight rests where your feet come in to contact with the footrest bar, and starts to hurt and ache after a while. Meanwhile, the legrest section is quite short, meaning it doesn't really feel comfortable to use without the footrest swung down.
Also, the legrest and seat recline controls are not electronic, and you have wrestle a bit with the seat recline to get it to work.
The IFE screen is lovely, and the IFE seems much faster in responding to the remote control than I've previously noticed.
2. Finish quality of the new PE seat installations is poor.
There are gaps in the plastic lining on the side of the plane. The carpet between the bulkhead and floor was coming apart.
3. Soft product is no different to economy.
There is no toilet in the cabin - you can't use the one for the first suites (obviously), and the using the toilets means the usual wait in line.
FAs interaction with passengers is more like J than Y, which is a good thing.
However, food is terrible. The food is basically Y food. The only difference is the tablecloth covering the usual plastic tray.
Amenities kit is the same as for Y but in a different colour.
All in all, for a night time flight, PE is not worth the difference. Food is the same, seat is the same in that you won't be able to sleep. Either save your money, or spend more for J.
For a day time flight, PE might work for you. I found the features of the seat that were meant to make it more comfortable somewhat unfulfilling. The footrest was the most uncomfortable I've used in a plane, and actually hurt after a while (I take my shoes off in flights).
On a random note, a brazen request which I found hilarious...
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
Last edited by sol95; Aug 23, 2015 at 6:32 am
#2
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
On a random note, a brazen request which I found hilarious...
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
I wonder who designed SQ's seats.. and when they did, did they try sitting in it themselves to see how (un)comfortable it is? Don't they design their seats ergonomically?
#6
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 973
On a random note, a brazen request which I found hilarious...
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
Without an ounce of compunction or shame whatsoever, in full view of both the Y cabin and the rear of the J cabin (upper deck), a 50-something year old local lady asked a group of 3 SQ girls whether there were any seats free in business class for her and her daughter (not a baby; think 19 year old drowning in tacky designer brands and taking photos of herself every 30 seconds and you're in the right ball park) because she wasn't expecting the Y seats to be so small. They, to their credit, repeatedly tried to explain to her that they do not have the authority to consider these requests unless they're on medical grounds and can be referred to the captain. She just wouldn't give up. Eventually she had to take her seat (took someone else's, surprise surprise). I don't know how the 3 cabin crew held it together without laughing but they did. They'll let anyone on to planes these days.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: OZ Platinum LifeTime; DL PM; QF Gold; VA Gold; HH Diamond; IHG Diamond
Posts: 1,128
In addition, space is no issue in the bulkhead. On both legs, the aisle seat next to me was empty. But even if it were occupied, getting past without crawling over the passenger would not be a problem.
The IFE being further away was not problem either. I quite liked it at that distance.
The IFE being further away was not problem either. I quite liked it at that distance.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,958
I'd wager a guess it generates lots of corporate revenue, gives companies an easier route to downgrade their shorter hauls / more junior staff (i.e. downgrade to PY doesn't make the travel policy as terrible as a downgrade to Y).
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 876
These days a lot of companies have a >6hr policy for J.
Below 6hr is Y.
Hope company won't introduce something in between like over 10hr -> J,
Below 10hr and over 6hr in PE.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, GHA Titanium
Posts: 1,958
Regardless of whether there is (or isn't) PY they will still lose some J revenue. Example my previous company downgraded the travel policy such that only directors and above fly J. Everyone else flies Y (even 12 hour long hauls to Europe). Perhaps if SQ had PY at the time, the company might have downgraded to PY instead of Y ... of course I'm only guessing and speculating wildly lol.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
On a random note, a brazen request which I found hilarious...
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
on boarding the plane, a couple with a baby flying in Y was boarding directly in front of me. They asked the FA if they could get an upgrade to business as they had a baby. I was impressed the FA didn't laugh in their face, but I couldn't stop myself from giggling at their request. The woman turned around and glared at me! :P
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DXB / KUO
Programs: AY, SQ, EK
Posts: 858
Thank you for the review sol95!
I am quite curious though - I will definitely need to give this product a try on some relatively short flight and see how it works. I don't need that much recline to be able to sleep - e.g. I recall Scoot premium cabin was perfectly fine on a day flight.
I am quite curious though - I will definitely need to give this product a try on some relatively short flight and see how it works. I don't need that much recline to be able to sleep - e.g. I recall Scoot premium cabin was perfectly fine on a day flight.
#15
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: SQ QPP1, HYATT DIA, SPG GOLD, HH GOLD, IHG GOLD
Posts: 656