Updated: 16th August 2024
In the distant past, Singapore Airlines passengers never needed to pay for advance seat selection on their flights, but that changed in November 2008, when the airline followed the lead of many US carriers by charging Economy Class customers to sit in an extra legroom seat.
Back then, the carrier called these “Preferred Seats”, and the additional charge for preselection was initially only applied on long-haul flights.
“Preferred Seats [in Economy Class] offer customers more legroom, and are now available for advance and guaranteed customer selection, for a fee of US$50 per sector, for all Singapore Airlines flights, except short-haul routes within Southeast Asia, and flights served by Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (this aircraft does not have seats located in exit rows).
Singapore Airlines, November 2008
Fast forward another nine years and an ever bigger change was afoot.
In December 2017, SIA started to monetise seat selection across a much wider range of Economy Class seats, as it began to ‘unbundle’ its fares to compete better with low-cost carriers.
Since then, those booking the cheapest Economy Class fares have been faced with fees when selecting seats in advance with extra legroom, those furthest forward in the cabin (but with no extra legroom) and for the very cheapest fares – for any seat at all!
Luckily there are waivers in place for those travelling with children, or holding sufficient status in the KrisFlyer / PPS Club programme.
No worries for First and Business Class passengers
Singapore Airlines passengers in First Class, Suites and Business Class continue to get complimentary seat selection, whether flying on a revenue fare or award ticket.
This guide therefore has no relevance if you’re flying in these cabins – only if it’s Economy Class or Premium Economy Class do you need to worry about these potential charges.
The best seats in Business Class, right at the front of each cabin section, aren’t charged but do get reserved for advance selection only by PPS Club members. Check out our guide here on how to secure these within 96 hours (4 days) of departure.
SIA’s seat selection fees
Seat selection fees apply in Economy Class and Premium Economy Class, as follows:
- Economy: Standard, Forward Zone, Extra Legroom
- Premium Economy: Extra Legroom, PY Upgrade*, Solo Seats
* Advance selection of a PY seat on a flight with no service differentiation from Economy Class (e.g. SIN-CGK)
Seat selection fees are charged per person, per flight, unless you are travelling on the same aircraft all the way from your origin point to your destination.
For example, on a same-aircraft SIN-FRA-JFK flight (SQ26) service, you’ll only pay the seat selection fee once, but if you stopover in Frankfurt for a few days the trip is regarded as two separate segments, and you’ll be hit with the seat selection fee for each flight in turn (SIN-FRA and FRA-JFK).
Singapore Airlines quietly hiked these fees, by up to 88% in some cases, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and again by up to 75% in July 2024.
Here’s the latest charging structure and who pays for it, which may depend on your booking class (fare code) in Economy:
- Economy Lite: K, V
- Economy Value: N, Q
- Economy Standard: H, M, W
- Economy Flexi: B, E, Y
| Singapore Airlines Seat Selection Fees (Economy Class) |
|||
| Standard | Forward Zone | Extra Legroom | |
| Payable by: | 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$10.00 | US$20.00 | US$30.00 |
| N Asia W Asia Middle East |
US$15.00 | US$25.00 | US$60.00 |
| Australia New Zealand |
US$20.00 | US$35.00 | US$80.00 |
| Europe^ S Africa |
US$30.00 | US$50.00 | US$110.00 |
| USA |
US$35.00 | US$60.00 | US$130.00 |
* Plus Spain to/from Italy
^ Plus USA to/from Europe and USA to/from Japan
| 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$110.00 | — |
| USA |
US$130.00 | US$168.00 |
^ Plus USA to/from Europe and USA to/from Japan
No worries for PPS Club passengers
PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club passengers benefit from fee waiver for all advance seat selection costs outlined above. You can read full details of all PPS Club benefits in our comprehensive guide here.
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$10-35)
KrisFlyer Elite Gold members travelling in Economy or Premium Economy Class on Singapore Airlines flights get free seat selection in:
- Standard (saving US$10-35)
- Forward Zone (saving US$20-60)
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 |
SIA still doesn’t actively advertise any of these discounts, which is strange!
For example, a PPS Club member travelling with a non-KrisFlyer member can pre-select an Extra Legroom seat in Premium Economy Class for free, regardless of the fare type, but the companion on that booking will only be able to secure a Standard or Forward Zone seat for free.
If the non-KrisFlyer companion wishes to sit with the PPS Club member in an Extra Legroom seat, a 15% discount on the usual fee applies.
You can read full details of all KrisFlyer Elite Gold benefits in our comprehensive guide here, and for KrisFlyer Elite Silver benefits here.
Travelling with infants
If you’re travelling as an adult or group of adults with the same number of infants (aged less than 2) as adults in the same booking:
- You will be able to select a Forward Zone seat at a bassinet position for free. For example, one adult with one infant, two adults with two infants, etc…
If you are travelling as a group of two or more adults with at least one infant (aged less than 2) fewer than the total number of adults in the same booking (e.g. 3 adults / 2 infants):
- The adult passenger(s) with the infant(s) attached will will be able to select a Forward Zone seat at a bassinet position for free.
- The adult passenger(s) without the infant(s) can select any Forward Zone or Standard Zone seat for free. They do not need to sit with the other members of the party.
As part of the booking process, Singapore Airlines asks you to state the accompanying adult passenger for each infant in the booking. If you want a Standard Zone seat for free, but zero bother – tag the infant to someone else in your booking!
Travelling with children
If you are travelling with at least one child (aged 2 to 11 years) in the same booking in Economy Class, all members of your party will be able to select a Standard Zone seat for free, regardless of your fare type.
You can sit separately from your child(ren) if you wish. Your children can also sit separately from one another.
Seat selection becomes free at T-48 hours
Exactly 48 hours before departure time, additional seat selection costs are cancelled and any passenger can select any available seat for free within their cabin class.
This does not apply to those hoping to sit in the Premium Economy cabin on shorter Band 1 flights, which then becomes blocked for selection to all except PPS Club members.
There’s still a chance to secure an Extra Legroom, Forward Zone or Solo seat for nothing, however we recommend logging on to the manage booking portal exactly 48 hours before your flight departure time if you want to try and do this, as any available seats tend to disappear quickly – especially the solo seats on Airbus A350 ULR flights.
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.
Summary
If you’re flying with Singapore Airlines in Economy Class or Premium Economy Class, you may be faced with an advance seat selection fee during the booking process, which varies based on your fare class and route.
Thankfully KrisFlyer Elite status allows you to get a wider selection of seats, or obtain a discount on the usual seat selection fees, while PPS Club membership means you won’t pay to pre-select any seat on board in your booked cabin class.
Once online check-in opens 48 hours before your flight departure time, all seat selection costs are cancelled and you can then select any remaining available seats in your cabin class, so do set yourself a reminder to get ‘first dibs’ on what’s left.
(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)