I recently wrote about my Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 business class flight, and as I explained in the post, I managed to assign one of the awesome bulkhead seats in the cabin. In this post I wanted to talk a bit more about that. What makes these seats so special, and how can you select them?
This can make a big difference in terms of comfort, so it’s worth being aware of if you have an upcoming business class flight on the airline…
In this post:
Why are Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats special?
Airlines configure their cabins as efficiently as possible, so many kinds of business class seats have footwells you have to place your feet into when in bed mode. This minimizes the amount of pitch airlines have to allocate to each seat, as that footwell is typically to the side of the seat in front.
However, airlines often have a bit of extra space in bulkhead rows, since there’s no seat in front. Some airlines create a premium business class product they can market separately (like Condor’s Prime Seats and Virgin Atlantic’s Retreat Suites), while other airlines just offer a better product in the first row, but don’t overhype it. The latter is exactly what Singapore Airlines does.
For example, looking at the Boeing 777-300ER, below is what the standard business class seat looks like…
While below is what the bulkhead seat looks like…
What’s awesome about the bulkhead seats is that you have a huge open space in front of you. If you’re just sitting up, you can use the bench as an ottoman, which the other seats don’t have. Meanwhile if you turn the seat into bed mode, you have a much bigger sleeping surface than the other seats.
While there are minor variations to the seats, this concept applies on all A380s and 777s, as well as on select A350 (specifically, A350-900ULRs and standard long haul A350-900s). This doesn’t apply to 737s, 787s, or regional A350-900s (which have a staggered configuration in business class).
How do you select Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats?
I appreciate that unlike some other airlines, Singapore Airlines doesn’t monetize seat assignments in business class.
Instead, the airline reserves its “special” business class seats for PPS Club members, which are elite members in the carrier’s frequent flyer program. That’s a nice reward for loyalty, and PPS Club members can select these seats at the time of booking directly through the carrier’s website and app.
Fortunately all other passengers get access to these seats starting 96 hours before departure, on a first come, first served basis:
- Singapore Airlines opens online check-in 48 hours before departure, and at that point all available business class seats can be assigned online
- Between 48 and 96 hours of departure, these seats can only be selected by phone, so you have to call Singapore Airlines to request these seats
For example, for my recent flight in Singapore Airlines’ 777 business class, I noticed several days before departure that a bulkhead was still available. So 96 hours before departure I called Singapore Airlines, and was able to assign that seat. The entire call took just a few minutes.
Which seats are Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats?
So, which Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats feature extra legroom, and are blocked under this policy?
- On the Boeing 777-300ER, this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 15A, 15D, 15F, and 15K; personally I prefer row 11 to row 15, as it’s much more private and not near any bathrooms
- On the Airbus A380, this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 91A, 91D, 91F, 91K, 96A, 96D, 96F, and 96K; personally I love row 96 as it’s so private back there, then I prefer row 11, and then I prefer row 91
- On the Airbus A350-900ULR, this includes seats 10A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 19A, 19D, 19F, and 19K; I don’t think there’s an obvious answer as to which row is better, as both are near lavatories and galleys
- On the Airbus A350-900 (non-ULR and non-regional), this includes seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 19A, 19D, 19F, and 19K; personally I prefer row 19 to row 11, as I like mini-cabins
Note that Singapore Airlines’ regional Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-10s have very different business class seats than the above. So while the seats are still blocked and follow the same policy, they don’t have the same advantage as in Singapore Airlines’ long haul business class product.
Bottom line
On long haul aircraft, Singapore Airlines’ bulkhead business class seats are pretty special. What makes them different is that they feature way more personal space, as you have a huge ottoman you can place your feet on, and that also becomes part of a larger bed. If you can snag one of those seats, I’d highly recommend it.
While Singapore Airlines reserves bulkhead seats for PPS Club members up until 96 hours before departure, at that point the seats become available to all business class passengers. Between 48 and 96 hours of departure, they can only be reserved by phone, while within 48 hours they can be reserved through online check-in.
Anyone else like Singapore Airlines’ bulkhead business class seats as much as I do?
Just managed to grab a bulkhead seat by calling in as suggested, so thanks for the tip!
They are also assigned at the time of booking to families travelling with an infant. I have just booked flights to Sydney and have been allocated row 15 on the 777 legs and rows 91 and 96 on the A380 legs.
The bulkhead seat of SQ is even better than normal first class seats in 777-300ER because there is a table above your feet and you will always feel it when flipping around during sleep
Ben,
Thanks for the tip. I will be sure to check on my SQ flight when I get to within 96 hours in order to try and get a bulkhead seat. One question, my flight is SQ011 from LAX to SIN but when I booked it using Aeroplan miles they told me it will make a stop in Tokyo where we'll have to leave the plane and reboard. Do you know anything about this...
Ben,
Thanks for the tip. I will be sure to check on my SQ flight when I get to within 96 hours in order to try and get a bulkhead seat. One question, my flight is SQ011 from LAX to SIN but when I booked it using Aeroplan miles they told me it will make a stop in Tokyo where we'll have to leave the plane and reboard. Do you know anything about this flight and why it does this? Just curious, I was very happy to be able to snag any seat in biz class on Singapore airlines to get to Bali in September.
Buddy M., SQ11 is a direct flight (not to be confused with a nonstop flight). Others may correct me but the 777-300ER may need to refuel in Tokyo. I don't think its range can handle the distance between LAX and SIN. On the other hand, the A350-900 (long range) can handle a nonstop SFO SIN.
The worst business class seats I have ever used. No automatic recline and crew have to dismantle and reassemble seat for sleeping. Impossible to sleep as crew are forever doing this and making a lot of noise. Basically they are Lego seats. Emirates for me in the future.
one note: if you are into watching TV and have low vision, the TV is further away on these bulkhead seats, thus appear smaller.
Based in Singapore, while I agree that the bulkhead seat essentially gives you first class space, I never understood the „have to sleep at an angle“ argument for the regular seats. I see it this way: you just sleep at the same angle as on a reverse herringbone seat (i.e. diagonal to the cabin) but you have additional space around you. But maybe majority of people seem to be sleeping on their backs and 100% straight for the whole night.
Re the A380, only the centre seats at rows 11, 91, and 96 have a full footwell. The window seats have a tiny bit of additional space but otherwise still have the same cubby hole needed for sleeping that the regular seats have.
It’s not so much the width but having to sleep angled, and it’s miserable for your back. The regular J seats, as mentioned before, stink.
Well..sad to see you write this but it is important information. I have about a 90% batting average getting bulkhead seats and now it will be tougher.
Without the bulkhead seat the A350 seats are awful and probably one of the worst business class seats out there. A huge mistake by Singapore.
Unfortunately, if you don't get a bulkhead seat, the rest of the business class seats are horrible for sleeping
So, selecting those seats at the time of booking is only for their members? In other words, not if the members are premium members or not.
Perhaps worthwhile noting that you don't have to call -- you can also use their live chat functionality. In fact, I literally just used the live chat to reserve my bulkhead seat for my flight this Friday :)
The bulkhead seats with bassinet logos are bookable upon making the reservation if you have a lap child on your itinerary.
What about row 96 on the A380? I would have assumed it would be row 96 instead of 95?
Hey Ben,
I think on A380 its not row 95..but 96 which have bulkhead seats..right?
:-)
Ben, interesting thing to note. Apparently Oman Air PR is working to vanish your negative articles about them to the void. Your negative articles of them has been pushed to 3rd page of “Oman air” google search (news section) result and your “spectacular Oman air 787” article has been pushed to the top result
I’m a 7 year PPS (and counting), fairly tall, and the bulkhead seats are a big reason for my loyalty to SQ for long haul flights. Substantially better legroom and even more in D and G. D and G also don’t directly see the bright ceiling light that is sometimes annoying if the curtain isn’t drawn fully (often, due to passengers traveling to the loo). I do prefer the privacy of A or K, though....
I’m a 7 year PPS (and counting), fairly tall, and the bulkhead seats are a big reason for my loyalty to SQ for long haul flights. Substantially better legroom and even more in D and G. D and G also don’t directly see the bright ceiling light that is sometimes annoying if the curtain isn’t drawn fully (often, due to passengers traveling to the loo). I do prefer the privacy of A or K, though. Anyway my favorite J seats though were the mini half-cabin on far back of the upper deck in the older A380s.
I just flew SQ 33 from SFO and SQ 24 to JFK on the a350 ULR. My only complaint about the bulkhead seats is that the IFE screen is much further away from you. That’s mitigated by the screen not being touch screen and controlled by the remote. The bulkhead seats also leave you much more “exposed” given the IFE is pushed away from the seat. Just additional things to consider when booking.
Really wish SG had a different seat on their A350s - Being 6'3 and size 13 foot the bulkhead is really the only way I can get any sleep, the footwell is absolutely tiny on the rest of the plane. Was super frustrated on a recent trip JFK-SIN -> Gate agent called me a few hours before departure saying wieght/balance issues necessitated moving me to a different seat in the back of the cabin (weight/balance...
Really wish SG had a different seat on their A350s - Being 6'3 and size 13 foot the bulkhead is really the only way I can get any sleep, the footwell is absolutely tiny on the rest of the plane. Was super frustrated on a recent trip JFK-SIN -> Gate agent called me a few hours before departure saying wieght/balance issues necessitated moving me to a different seat in the back of the cabin (weight/balance is always an issue on this route - can't ever take a carry-on cause it's always too heavy so has to be checked). You can imagine my joy when I boarded and saw my original bulkhead seat was occupied the entire 20h flight. :)
We flew the JFK-SIN flight RT last year.
We weren't asked to check our carry on in BC either way.
Interesting. I've had to do it three times in the last year flying business (only jfk-sin had to check)
100% lost your seat to an entitled PPS member
not sure, I am Solitaire (read HON for SQ) with corporate contract and I cannot get a bulkhead if I insist.
@Ben, when did they start restricting the bulkhead seats? I was able to reserve one in 2022 for a 2023 flight without status.
I shudder to think what the regular business class seats are like because the bulkhead wasn't comfortable at all.
Was it seat 10a? I've been able to reserve that one sooner. Maybe it's considered a little less idea due its forward position?
@DENDAVE, I think so. It was on the long-haul A350 with just J and PY. The privacy was great, but that's about it.
i agree that they are better...i just find it humorous that while the vast majority of ppl travel in cattle class in the back, here we sit discussing ways to get even more room on a seat that is already quite roomy, and one of the better/best products out there!
Hi Ben,
How did you find out that there was still a bulkhead seat several days before the flight to call the airline at the 96-hour before check-in mark?
I’m flying in July SQ business JFK - FRA and SQ website shows all bulkhead seats as already booked.
@ Bruno -- So yeah, that is tricky. Singapore's website shows these as booked, while ExpertFlyer specifically shows these as blocked (with an "X"). Anyone know if there's a non-paid service that shows blocked seats?
ExpertFlyer free accounts will still show this if you search as though you are going to make a flight alert.
The bulkhead seats can also be reserved via chat. I was able to do this twice last summer. Took about five minutes.
I've got 10A reserved for SIN-JFK this November and only have KF Silver status (via the recent Marriott match, not SQ flying, sadly). I didn't have to do anything specific to grab it.
Via chat starting 96 hours before the flight, or earlier than that?
Great article. Combining this with the spontaneous escape sale for a 51k point flight from Sydney to Delhi next month!
The Qantas bulkheads are also such a better experience in terms of leg room to the regular seats.