Get Premium Economy for just a little more than economy
Sometimes upgrades appear from the unlikeliest of hiding places. In this case, the premium great-way-to-fly carrier, Singapore Airlines.
Singapore operates the A350-900 ULR, or “ultra-long range,” aircraft, which has 67 Business Class and 94 Premium Economy seats. Don’t bother looking for an economy cabin because you won’t find one. This aircraft is available when flying from Los Angeles, New York (JFK and EWR), and San Francisco to Singapore.
If you’re on a budget and flying Premium Economy from San Francisco to Singapore, in particular, Singapore Airlines gives you two low-cost (read: upgrade) options to consider.
Option 1
Fly in Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 three-cabin San Francisco-Singapore flights, SQ31 and SQ32, for $2,070. Screenshot below.
Option 2
Or, fly in Premium Economy on their A350-900 ULR two-cabin San Francisco-Singapore flights, SQ33 and SQ34, for $1,656. United Airlines charges $2,044 for the same flight in Premium Economy.
United in Premium Economy to Singapore for $2,044
About the Seat
Singapore Airlines’ Premium Economy Class seat offers a pitch of 38 inches with widths ranging from 18.5 to 19.5 inches. You get the full leather-finish treatment plus an eight-inch recline, calf rest, and foot bar. For readers, every seat has a personal “gooseneck” reading light, as well as a cocktail table and storage space for your phone, book, or water bottle. Each seat has a universal AC outlet and twin USB charging ports.
Where to find the A350-900 ULR
Los Angeles-Singapore flights SQ35 and SQ36 (through Jan. 31, 2025)
New York (JFK)-Singapore flights SQ23 and SQ24
Newark (EWR)-Singapore flights SQ20 and SQ21
San Francisco-Singapore flights SQ33 and SQ34 (from Feb. 1, 2025)
Savings (and Upgrades) Beyond Singapore
The A350-900 is not available beyond Singapore, but you can still save by flying this aircraft to Singapore and then continuing on.
Case in point: You could fly on Cathay Pacific’s New York-Sydney via Hong Kong route in economy class and pay $2,458. Or you could upgrade by flying Singapore’s A350-900 ULR in Premium Economy for $2,776. That’s an upgrade to Premium Economy for just $318 round-trip. Or fly in Premium Economy on Cathay Pacific and pay $3,336.
Cathay Pacific Economy New York to Sydney for $2,458
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy New York to Sydney for $2,776
