I recently wrote about flying on Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777 business class, and as I explained in that post, I was able to be assigned one of the nice bulkhead seats in the cabin. In this post, I would like to talk about it in a little more detail. What’s so appealing about this seat and how can you choose one?
This can make a big difference in terms of comfort, so it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning on flying the airline’s business class.
What makes Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats so special?
Airlines configure their cabins as efficiently as possible, so many types of business class seats come with extra legroom where you need to put your feet when in bed mode. This minimizes the amount of pitch that airlines have to allocate to each seat. This is because the seat footwell is usually next to the seat in front of you.
However, because there are no seats in front of you, airlines often leave a little extra room in the bulkhead rows. Some airlines create premium business class products that can be sold separately (such as Condor’s Prime Seats and Virgin Atlantic’s Retreat Suites), while others offer superior front-row products Just do it and don’t overhype it. The latter is exactly what Singapore Airlines is doing.
For example, the standard business class seats on the Boeing 777-300ER are:
Below is what the bulkhead sheet looks like…
The great thing about bulkhead seats is that you have a huge open space in front of you. If you just want to sit, you can use the bench as an ottoman, but the other seats don’t. On the other hand, when you put the seat in bed mode, you get much more sleeping area than other seats.
Although there are some differences in seats, this concept applies to all A380s and 777s, and some A350s (particularly the A350-900ULR and standard long-haul A350-900). This does not apply to the 737, 787, or the regional A350-900 (which has a staggered configuration in business class).
How do you choose a Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seat?
I appreciate that Singapore Airlines does not monetize business class seat reservations, unlike other airlines.
Instead, the airline reserves “special” business class seats for PPS Club members, who are elite members of the airline’s frequent flyer program. This is a great reward for loyalty, and PPS Club members can select these seats directly through the airline’s website and app when booking.
Fortunately, all other passengers have access to these seats on a first-come, first-served basis starting 96 hours before departure.
- Singapore Airlines will begin online check-in 48 hours before departure, at which point all available business class seats will be available for online assignment
- Between 48 and 96 hours prior to departure, these seats can only be selected by phone, so you must call Singapore Airlines to request these seats.
For example, when I recently flew on Singapore Airlines’ 777 business class, I discovered a few days before departure that the bulkhead was still available. So I called Singapore Airlines 96 hours before departure and was able to reserve that seat. The entire call took only a few minutes.
Which seats are the bulkhead seats in Singapore Airlines business class?
So which Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats with extra legroom are blocked by this policy?
- On the Boeing 777-300ER, this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 15A, 15D, 15F, and 15K. Personally, I like the 11th row more than the 15th row because it feels more private and there are no toilets nearby.
- On the Airbus A380, this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 91A, 91D, 91F, 91K, 95A, 95D, 95F, and 95K. Personally, I love row 95 because it’s very private. Next, I like column 11. And I like column 91.
- On the Airbus A350-900ULR, this includes seats 10A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 19A, 19D, 19F, 19K. I don’t think there is a clear answer as to which row is better since both rows are close to the restrooms and galleys.
- On the Airbus A350-900 (non-ULR and non-localized), this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 19A, 19D, 19F, and 19K. Personally, I like the mini cabin, so I prefer the 19th row to the 11th row.
Please note that the business class seats on Singapore Airlines’ regional Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-10 are very different from those shown above. So, while the seats are still blocked and follow the same policy, they don’t have the same benefits as Singapore Airlines’ long-haul business class product.
conclusion
On long-haul flights, Singapore Airlines’ business class bulkhead seats are pretty special. What makes them different is that they have a huge ottoman that you can put your feet on, which also becomes part of a larger bed, so you have more personal space. If you can find one of those seats, I highly recommend it.
Singapore Airlines will reserve bulkhead seats for PPS Club members up to 96 hours before departure, at which point the seats will be available to all business class passengers. Reservations can only be made by phone from 48 to 96 hours prior to departure, but within 48 hours, reservations can be made via online check-in.
Does anyone else love Singapore Airlines’ bulkhead business class seats as much as I do?