Back in mid-2021, Singapore Airlines added a new fare type for those booking cash tickets in Economy Class – and it was called “Economy Value”, designed to be a slightly more flexible ticket than the cheapest “Economy Lite” option, but still offering a lower cost than the “Economy Standard” and “Economy Flexi” fares.
Effectively it meant that for paying a premium over the cheapest “Lite” fare type in this cabin, you could have more flexibility for changes and cancellations, in case your travel plans changed, including the ability to cancel for a fee, even after a “no show”.
Standard seat selection is now free for “Value” fares
Since mid-2021, when Singapore Airlines first launched the “Economy Value” fare, Standard seat selection was chargeable in common with “Economy Lite” fares.
That’s meant that even though the Value ticket comes with some added flexibility, just to select a seat in the cabin (yes – any seat!) has meant parting with between US$8 and US$25 (S$11 to S$34) per passenger in each direction of your journey, depending on the flight length.
Thankfully that’s changing for flights departing from 1st April 2024, with Economy Value fares now eligible for complimentary Standard seat selection, even if you book before that date, but travel from April 2024 onwards.
Given that most travellers prefer to have a specific seat assignment in advance, this is definitely an improvement for the Value fare, which is sometimes the cheapest available option anyway, when Lite is not being offered.
You can identify whether you already hold an Economy Value fare based on your booking class, which is stated on your e-ticket.
- Economy Lite: K, V
- Economy Value: N, Q
- Economy Standard: H, M, W
- Economy Flexi: B, E, Y
Note that if you currently book an Economy Value fare via the Singapore Airlines website or app for a flight departing on 1st April 2024 onwards, seat selection still reflects a cost at the fare conditions summary page.
Don’t be misled by this, or choose a more expensive fare just to get complimentary Standard seat selection! Once you actually reach the seat selection stage, you will note that Standard seats are actually free for this fare type.
We expect the system will be able to accurately reflect this at the fare conditions summary page from 1st April 2024 onwards, once it applies to all Economy Value bookings, regardless of departure date.
What are Standard seats?
In Economy Class, Singapore Airlines splits its seat into three categories:
- Extra Legroom Seats
- Forward Zone Seats
- Standard Seats
Here’s how it looks in the forward cabin of the Airbus A380 in Economy Class.
As you can see the Standard seats are further back in the cabin and don’t have any extra legroom benefits. Those booked in Economy Value from 1st April 2024 will no longer have to pay to select them in advance, but seats in the Extra Legroom or Forward Zone rows are still chargeable.
Seat selection fees on Singapore Airlines
We’ve updated our full guide to seat selection fees on Singapore Airlines flights to reflect this change for Economy Value fares.
In the meantime, here’s a summary of the fees involved, based on your travel class and destination.
| Singapore Airlines Seat Selection Fees (Economy Class) |
|||
| Standard | Forward Zone | Extra Legroom | |
| Payable by: | Economy Value (till 31 Mar 2024) Economy Lite |
Economy Standard Economy Value Economy Lite Economy Saver Award |
Premium Economy Economy Flexi Economy Standard Economy Value Economy Lite Economy Saver Award Economy Advantage Award |
| SE Asia* | US$8.00 | US$15.00 | US$25.00 |
| N Asia W Asia Middle East |
US$10.00 | US$20.00 | US$60.00 |
| Australia New Zealand |
US$15.00 | US$25.00 | US$80.00 |
| Europe S Africa^ |
US$20.00 | US$40.00 | US$100.00 |
| USA |
US$25.00 | US$50.00 | US$120.00 |
* Plus Spain to/from Italy
^ Plus USA to/from Europe and North Asia
| Singapore Airlines Seat Selection Fees (Premium Economy Class) |
||
| Extra Legroom | Solo Seats | |
| Payable by: | All revenue fares All award tickets |
All revenue fares All award tickets |
| N Asia W Asia Middle East |
US$60.00 | — |
| Australia New Zealand |
US$80.00 | — |
| Europe S Africa^ |
US$100.00 | — |
| USA |
US$120.00 | US$140.00 |
Note that those travelling with children can select Standard seats in advance for free, even when travelling on the cheapest Economy Lite fares, while those with infants in their booking can pre-select Forward Zone seats for free (sort of – that one’s a bit more complicated as our guide explains).
Free and discounted seat selection for KrisFlyer members
KrisFlyer Elite Silver members travelling in Economy or Premium Economy Class on Singapore Airlines flights get free seat selection in:
- Standard (saving US$8-25)
KrisFlyer Elite Gold members travelling in Economy or Premium Economy Class on Singapore Airlines flights get free seat selection in:
- Standard (saving US$8-25)
- Forward Zone (saving US$15-50)
This benefit for Economy Value fares is therefore mainly for basic KrisFlyer members, or non-members in the programme.
Where payment is still required for seat selection, a discount applies for KrisFlyer members, as shown below.
| Seat Selection Fees KrisFlyer Member Discounts |
|||
| Status Level | Standard | Forward Zone | Extra Legroom PY “Upgrade” PY Solo Seats |
| Non-KF | No discount | No discount | No discount |
 KF Member |
5% discount | 5% discount | 5% discount |
 KF Elite Silver |
Free | 10% discount | 10% discount |
 KF Elite Gold |
Free | Free | 15% discount |
 PPS Club |
Free | Free | Free |
Travel companions on the same booking may get discount on seat selection fees if they hold a lower status level themselves, compared to the highest status holder on the same booking, as shown below.
| Seat Selection Fees KrisFlyer Companion Discounts |
|||
| Highest status holder in same booking |
Standard | Forward Zone | Extra Legroom PY “Upgrade” PY Solo Seats |
| Non-KF | No discount | No discount | No discount |
| KF Member |
No discount | No discount | No discount |
| KF Elite Silver |
5% discount | 5% discount | 5% discount |
| KF Elite Gold |
10% discount | 10% discount | 10% discount |
| PPS Club |
Free | Free | 15% discount |
Summary
There’s a nice improvement in store for those booking or holding SIA’s Economy Value fare type for flights departing on 1st April 2024 onwards, with Standard seat selection now complimentary for all passengers, regardless of your KrisFlyer status (or lack thereof).
For a couple heading to the USA and back, who will likely want to be sure that they will be sitting together at the booking stage, rather than chancing their luck at online check-in, the total saving is US$100 (S$134), definitely not to be sniffed at!
See our complete guide to seat selection fees on SIA for the latest full rundown and all the details.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)