Singapore Airlines has recently switched one of its two daily Airbus A350 Medium Haul flights between the Lion City and Malé in the Maldives to an A350 Long Haul variant, meaning the wider 2013 Business Class seats are now plying this popular route each morning.

This swap actually reduces overall capacity on the route but does provide a comfort boost in Business Class, and a Premium Economy option (in hard product terms) for those booked in Economy Class and wish to pay a fee for more space.

The schedule

Since 30th July 2024, Singapore Airlines replaced its Airbus A350 Medium Haul aircraft with a Long Haul variant, on daily SQ432/431 services to and from Malé.

The latest flight schedule is shown below, with both aircraft types now plying this route as highlighted.

Airbus A350 LH services
Airbus A350 MH services

Singapore Airlines
Singapore ⇄ Male Schedule
(30 Jul – 26 Oct 2024)

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ432 Airbus A350 LH
SIN 10:05		MLE 11:55
	SQ438 Airbus A350 MH
SIN 20:45		MLE 22:10
	SQ431 Airbus A350 LH
MLE 13:05		SIN 21:00
	SQ437 Airbus A350 MH
MLE 23:25		SIN 07:05*

* Next day

As you can see the Airbus A350 Long Haul now operates all SQ432/431 flights on this route, including 42 of the popular 2013 Business Class seats, which are the widest on offer to and from Malé, and still have direct aisle access.

This will continue to be the case until the end of the current summer 2024 season, on 26th October 2024, after which the Malé route reverts to twice daily Airbus A350 Medium Haul operation for the winter season.

Award rates

Here are the redemption rates you’ll pay when flying on an SIA flight between Singapore and the Maldives.

KrisFlyer Redemption Rates 🇲🇻 Maldives to/from Singapore
	Saver (one way)	Advantage (one way)
Economy	20,000	37,000
Business	43,000	65,000

Remember these rates apply regardless of the aircraft type used, so you’re paying the same mileage rate to fly on the Airbus A350 Long Haul as you are to fly on the Airbus A350 Medium Haul.

The Business Class cabin products on these types do differ, so pick wisely where you have a choice.

Remember that Malé is included in this month’s Singapore Airlines Spontaneous Escapes list, for travel in September 2024, when you book between now and Saturday 31st August 2024.

Spontaneous Escapes
September 2024
Business Class

As you can see the 2013 (long-haul) Business Class is offered for a discount in the Malé to Singapore direction next month.

These redemptions are non-changeable and non-refundable, so you’ll have to have firm travel plans in order to commit, but it does drive the one-way award cost on this route down from 43,000 miles to a competitive 30,100 miles.

Unfortunately the Maldives recently hiked its departure taxes for those redeeming in Business Class, as we reported back in December 2021, meaning there’s still a large cash outlay of US$120 (~S$157) for your award seat in this direction, unless you are a Maldivian citizen.

Economy Class redemptions are also available for a discounted 14,000 miles, from the usual 20,000-mile Saver rate.

Spontaneous Escapes
September 2024
Economy Class

Premium Economy is sold as Economy Class

SIA’s Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft, which are now operating daily to and from Malé over the next two months as outlined above, are three-class models with Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins installed.

While the mid-range Premium Economy class was briefly offered on this route during the COVID-19 pandemic, when these aircraft were used on Malé-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane flights (remember them?), that’s not the case this time round.

Singapore Airlines has instead decided to sell Premium Economy seats as Economy Class, and allow customers to pay an additional fee for the larger seat in this cabin with additional legroom, but with no service differentiation offered.

This is already the case on the airline’s regular Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta flights, using aircraft equipped with Premium Economy Class cabins.

While there is no priority service on the ground, enhanced miles earning or upgraded F&B on board when sitting in this cabin on these flights, here’s what SIA’s Premium Economy seat offers:

• 38″ seat pitch (6″ more than Economy Class)
• 19″ seat width (0.5″ more than Economy Class)
• 8″ seat recline (2″ more than Economy Class)
• 2-4-2 seating layout (3-3-3 in Economy Class)
• 13.3″ HD touchscreen monitor (2.1″ bigger than Economy Class)
• In-built calf rest and footrest
• 2 USB ports and AC power supply
• Adjustable reading light

Here’s how the cash rates look for selecting a seat in the Premium Economy cabin on these Malé flights with a Premium Economy cabin, but not offering a differentiated Premium Economy service.

There are discounts applied, based on you KrisFlyer status, while for PPS Club members advance seat selection in the Premium Economy section is free of charge.

Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Seat Selection (on Malé flights)
Status	PY Standard	PY Extra Legroom
Non-KF	US$50.00 (~S$65)	US$90.00 (~S$118)
KF Basic	US$47.50 (~S$62)	US$85.50 (~S$112)
KF Elite Silver (full details)	US$45.00 (~S$59)	US$81.00 (~S$106)
KF Elite Gold (full details)	US$42.50 (~S$56)	US$76.50 (~S$100)
PPS Club (full details)	Free	Free

These seat selection fees do not vary based on your Economy Class fare type (e.g. Lite, Standard, Flexi). They also apply to those booked on any award redemption in the Economy Class cabin (i.e. Promo, Saver or Advantage).

Here’s an example for a non-KrisFlyer member reserving a Premium Economy seat (but remember, not a PY service standard) from Singapore to Male on an Airbus A350 Long Haul flight.

There’s an alternative tactic though, if you don’t wish to pay extra to sit in this cabin.

When online check-in opens at exactly 48 hours prior to your flight’s departure time, all seat selection fees are cancelled and any passenger can select any available seat for free within their cabin class.

In this case, that includes the Premium Economy section, for those booked in Economy on these specific A350 Long Haul Malé flights.

We therefore strongly recommend checking the Manage Booking portal as soon as the clock hits 48 hours prior to your departure time, at which point you should then see the same Premium Economy seat selection that existed for a fee just a few minutes before, all available to select for free.

This strategy won’t always work, but it’s definitely worth a try.

One slightly frustrating “feature” of the Singapore Airlines website and app is that since COVID-19, once online check-in opens 48 hours before departure it often no longer allows you to modify your seat selection, making it impossible to move into an empty seat.

In this case, you can still switch your seats by calling SIA or using Kris the Chatbot (click “Chat with a live agent”). They will happily assist to move you to an unoccupied seat.

Singapore Airlines is flying its Airbus A350 Long Haul aircraft on one of two daily flights between the Lion City and Malé in the Maldives between now and late October 2024.

This gives you the opportunity to experience the long-haul 2013 Business Class product on these five-hour daytime services, while those in Economy Class can score a wider more spacious seat in the Premium Economy cabin for a fee, albeit with no service differentiation.

Malé is on the list of Spontaneous Escapes deals for September 2024 and there’s still award space available from 14,000 miles in Economy Class or 30,100 miles in Business Class, both quite attractive rates if you are interested in a Maldives trip during low (rainy) season.

(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)