Best Premium Economy SYD-SIN

[CaptainOz]

Keen for everyone feedback on the best full service Premium Economy flying SYD-SIN. Departing SYD on or around 15 Jan. Cathay Pacific seems to have some of the better fares. Thanks in advance .

 

[boffman]

I’m going to exclude anything but direct flights. Your choice is between Qantas, Singapore and BA. I’ve flown Qantas and Singapore’s premium economy before. I don’t think there’s much in it. Looking at cost, there’s a couple of Singapore flights around $1,600. Then it jumps to just over $2k. Pick a departure time and price point that suits.

 

[dajop]

Depends on what you care about most. If it’s mainly about the seat I wouldn’t discount the non full service option on the route - i.e.ScootPlus. It’s a solid PE seat and whilst the complementary F&B service is limited and no IFE - if savings hundreds of dollars you can spend a small fraction on that on buy on board F&B and loading a device with content.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

CX put you SYD - HKG and then down again to SIN, taking in extra time and effort.
The SQ planes, only their 777/380 (older planes) has premium Y, don't think their short haul 350 they use on the SYD - SIN sector has it, SQ is asking Aud$3500 or so, for a return in Sept.
QF 380 has it, the plane then goes up to LHR, ie, QF81.
Cheapest, would be D7 (Air Asia X) in their version of J from SYD - KUL, and then a 3K cheapie down to SIN.

 

[MELso]

If you're prepared to have one stop, what about Garuda business class to DPS, then economy to SIN for ~$1.8k on 14/1? (You'd need a travel agent to book though.)

But otherwise, I'd second Scootbiz directly...

 

[747sp]

When travelling in PE I found the hard product to be the most important thing. My biggest issue is that the seats normally slide forward so at 194 cm my knees get sqashed in the seat ahead.

The soft product is not so important. Some airlines just give you economy food while others have a special menu. JAL give access to the busness lounge which is nice.
Take care with SQ as they sometimes will have you on scoot in their business class and timing can be less than optimal.

 

[SYD]

QF 380 has it, the plane then goes up to LHR, ie, QF81.

QF1/2 is the A380 service to/from LHR via SIN. But from Oct 23, QF291/292 will be operated by the AY wetlease A330s that also have Finnair‘s PE hard product and QF F&B.

Finnair Premium Economy

Our brand-new Premium Economy Class offers you more choice, space and comfort with wide seats. Embrace the new sensation of flying with Finnair.

www.finnair.com

 

[tdimdad]

When travelling in PE I found the hard product to be the most important thing. My biggest issue is that the seats normally slide forward so at 194 cm my knees get sqashed in the seat ahead.

Agreed on the importance of the hard product. The longer the flight, the more valuable it becomes. Though, I love the shell seats because the pax in front won't encroach on my space. Especially the TV screen I like to keep at a distance and just in general appreciate the space between seats.

 

[dajop]

CX put you SYD - HKG and then down again to SIN, taking in extra time and effort.
The SQ planes, only their 777/380 (older planes) has premium Y, don't think their short haul 350 they use on the SYD - SIN sector has it, SQ is asking Aud$3500 or so, for a return in Sept.

The A350's SQ use on SYD I think are all long haul configured and thus do have premium economy.

 

[encryptededdy]

Unfortunately all 3 carriers that run this route direct have 38" pitch, which is (imo) not good enough for Premium Economy. 40" is what I consider to be a good Premium Economy experience.

Otherwise, I'd say just go for one of the A380s, as the very front (SQ) and upstairs (QF) are both very quiet.

 

[clifford]

Agreed on the importance of the hard product. The longer the flight, the more valuable it becomes. Though, I love the shell seats because the pax in front won't encroach on my space. Especially the TV screen I like to keep at a distance and just in general appreciate the space between seats.

These seats are really good on the JAL 789, especially at the bulkhead, but the service is sub optimal, with Y meals and attitude. IME.

 

[Forg]

These seats are really good on the JAL 789, especially at the bulkhead, but the service is sub optimal, with Y meals and attitude. IME.

The thing about J meals is that a $50/head cafe will smash them … and PE meals aren’t going to be as good. The meals stuff really isn’t worth spending over about $50 extra per ticket with PE … the seats (& particularly the knees not bleeding profusely when you reef them outta the frame of the seat in front to exit the plane), that’s what’s worth extra money.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Someone mentioned that QF81 will be an a/A380.
Thought that that was the one that continues to LHR.
Noted tho, ta.

 

[AIRwin]

Someone mentioned that QF81 will be an a/A380.

Me?

QF81 - A380 on Saturdays from Jul 15

When I searched for flights to make a booking this weekend, I noticed that an A380 is scheduled to operate QF81 on Saturdays and QF82 on Sundays from 15 July until 28 October - "subject to government and regulatory approval"

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[WilsonM]

Just got off CX Premium Economy (full review eventually coming) - probably wouldn't pay that much extra all things considered, as the seat is only 1.5 inches wider, and you can get extra legroom easily in exit row seats. The food seemed like the same in economy but with the main served in china. Especially for those with QF gold who can pick extra legroom seats for free, kinda just doesn't seem worth the extra cost imho

 

[tdimdad]

These seats are really good on the JAL 789, especially at the bulkhead, but the service is sub optimal, with Y meals and attitude. IME.

And I just love the JL service (both in Y and PE). It's my style of an approach, in a way perhaps understated and distant but usually still quite attentive. If I was booking flights based on the onboard service only, JL would be at the top of the list for me.

 

[stm1sydney]

I wouldn't spend the money on PE on SYD-SIN, don't see the value in it, but agree that Scoot Plus is a very viable and comfortable option on their B787s which does provide value for money.

 

[SYD]

I wouldn't spend the money on PE on SYD-SIN, don't see the value in it, but agree that Scoot Plus is a very viable and comfortable option on their B787s which does provide value for money.

Less points to upgrade to J is one good reason. A few years ago, I managed to book QF SYD-SIN in whY and SIN-SYD PE on one ticket via the app and a successful upgrade request to J came through on the trip home!

I’ve never been able to book same since but I believe it’s possible by calling QF or probably via a TA.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Looking at the SQ schedule into 2024, they do not seem to have any of their 350s flying their daily routings SYD - SIN.
Looked at Apr 2024, its only their 380 or their 777, I did pick premY as a choice in the flight search.
Maybe if I had picked Y/J, their 350 would have appeared in the list.
Meaning if they did bring their 350s into the SYD - SIN routings, it would be the ones without the premY offering.
===
That said though, one of their MEL - SIN at 18.25 dep does have the 350 with premY.

 

[clifford]

And I just love the JL service (both in Y and PE). It's my style of an approach, in a way perhaps understated and distant but usually still quite attentive. If I was booking flights based on the onboard service only, JL would be at the top of the list for me.

Yes, I agree that JL service is usually pretty good (I've just flown MYJ-cough-KMI with them and it was fine), but my premium economy experience HEL-HND-SYD was quite poor. However, it was just post Covid restrictions, so that might account for it (although I didn't care for the Y class food in paper containers).