Singapore Airlines rating

Singapore Airlines rating: 6.4/10 (B tier)

Generous US baggage allowances, but little flexibility when fares fall

Axel considers Singapore Airlines a sound value for travelers who will use its included baggage allowance on US routes and can commit to their dates. Its very low cancellation rate and strong refund record help, but Economy Lite cannot be changed and recovering a lower fare requires an eligible refund and rebooking. Choose it for the total trip cost, not easy price protection.

Axel score: 6.4/10, B tier, #21 of 77 airlines. Repriceability: 4.2/10 (#52). Checked October 26, 2026. Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/singapore-airlines

Best and worst

• Best: Economy fares on US routes include two checked bags up to 23kg each.
• Best: Just 0.14% of flights were cancelled across 2025.
• Best: Refund complaints were 1.87 per 100,000 passengers on US flights in April and May 2026.
• Worst: Economy Lite allows no voluntary changes or ordinary fare refund.
• Worst: The booking rules prohibit a direct exchange to a lower fare.
• Worst: Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire after three years, regardless of account activity.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back? Partly

Partly, through cancellation and rebooking if the original fare permits a refund, not a direct price adjustment. Economy Lite allows neither voluntary changes nor an ordinary fare refund. Economy Value and Economy Standard charge for changes, but US ticket amounts are unconfirmed. Economy Flexi changes are complimentary, with fare differences still payable. Eligible cancellations return money to the original payment card minus the applicable penalty, so fees can erase savings. The US cancellation penalty is also unconfirmed. No ordinary credit from exchanging to a lower fare is established. General voluntary credit expiry and transferability are unconfirmed, while credits offered instead of an owed refund for a qualifying US flight disruption must last at least five years. For flights to or from the US booked at least seven days before departure, call Singapore Airlines within 24 hours of booking for penalty-free cancellation and rebook. This route follows the fare rules, not an advertised price-drop guarantee.

Axel has no quantified repricing results to report here. No sample size or observation period is available in Axel's own data, so an observed savings figure cannot be stated.

Singapore Airlines fares

Key facts

• Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. The US booking FAQ prohibits changing a ticket from a higher to a lower fare and instead directs travelers to request a refund and rebook if their fare conditions permit. It therefore establishes no normal downward-exchange cash or credit residual. Economy Value is this record's standard fare because it is the cheapest non-Lite family; Economy Standard is a separate, higher-priced family.
• Same flight, lower price: The published higher-to-lower-fare restriction supports refund and rebooking, subject to the original fare's refund conditions, rather than a direct price adjustment. Directly purchased refundable tickets can be cancelled online; penalties reduce potential savings. Lite fares do not provide an ordinary fare refund. Within the qualifying US 24-hour window, contact Singapore Airlines for a penalty-free refund and rebook. This is an inference from the booking and refund rules, not a separately advertised price-drop guarantee.
• Credits (Travel credits / vouchers): No general current validity period was confirmed for voluntary-cancellation or price-drop credits. Credits or vouchers offered instead of an owed refund for a qualifying US-flight disruption must remain valid for at least five years.
• 24-hour rule: For flights to or from the US reserved at least seven days before departure, Singapore Airlines permits penalty-free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Its customer service plan instructs website customers to call the contact centre. The plan separately provides a 24-hour unpaid hold for qualifying reservations made at a Singapore Airlines reservation office.
• Same-day change: No separate published US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby entitlement, fee, or waiver was confirmed. Ordinary fare-change eligibility remains the established baseline, subject to availability and applicable fare differences; Flexi's complimentary changes do not establish a fare-difference waiver.
• Schedule changes: For US international itineraries, cancellation or a significant change entitles the traveler to an original-payment refund when they decline the changed flight, replacement transportation and credits. Significant changes include departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, different origin or destination airports, extra connections, or involuntary downgrade; accessibility-related protections also apply. Singapore Airlines' contract follows DOT rules and offers carriage, rerouting or refund. Separately, its B2B policy effective September 15, 2025, first communicated September 30, 2025, allows penalty-free reissue/refund on 618-stock tickets for departure or arrival changes of at least 60 minutes, smaller changes breaking minimum connection time, cancellation without an alternative, or loss of the booked cabin after an aircraft change. That agency policy was not confirmed as a direct-website contractual guarantee.

Score breakdown

Repriceability: 4.2/10

• Standard fare change fee: 4.0/10 (Economy Value: The airline's current US fare-types page says changes are 'Chargeable' but publishes no USD amount; it shows no update date and was checked October 26, 2026. Its New Zealand trade bulletin, marked correct as at April 28, 2026, lists USD 150 for long-haul changes, but applicability to US-website purchases was not established. Therefore null means the US-ticket amount is unconfirmed, not that changes are free. Applicable fare differences are additional.)
• Lowest fare flexibility: 0.0/10 (Economy Lite: Voluntary changes are not allowed.)
• Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 (The published higher-to-lower-fare restriction supports refund and rebooking, subject to the original fare's refund conditions, rather than a direct price adjustment. Directly purchased refundable tickets can be cancelled online; penalties reduce potential savings. Lite fares do not provide an ordinary fare refund. Within the qualifying US 24-hour window, contact Singapore Airlines for a penalty-free refund and rebook. This is an inference from the booking and refund rules, not a separately advertised price-drop guarantee.)
• Credit terms: 7.0/10 (No general current validity period was confirmed for voluntary-cancellation or price-drop credits. Credits or vouchers offered instead of an owed refund for a qualifying US-flight disruption must remain valid for at least five years.)
• Cancel the standard fare: 4.0/10 (Refund to the original payment card less the applicable cancellation penalty, subject to the ticket's conditions and deadline. The US page does not publish a fixed amount.)
• Risk-free window: 7.0/10 (For flights to or from the US reserved at least seven days before departure, Singapore Airlines permits penalty-free cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Its customer service plan instructs website customers to call the contact centre. The plan separately provides a 24-hour unpaid hold for qualifying reservations made at a Singapore Airlines reservation office.)
• Same-day change: no data, median 7.0/10 used (No separate published US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby entitlement, fee, or waiver was confirmed. Ordinary fare-change eligibility remains the established baseline, subject to availability and applicable fare differences; Flexi's complimentary changes do not establish a fare-difference waiver.)
• What Axel saw: does not apply (fewer than 10 attempts). Source: Axel repricing attempts

Refunds and disruptions: 8.3/10

• Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 7.0/10 (Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, India_DGCA; Coverage depends on the itinerary: US refund rules cover US flights; EU261 and UK261 principally cover SQ departures from those jurisdictions, not every inbound SQ flight; Indian passenger-protection requirements apply where applicable. Beyond statutory rights, SQ's US service plan promises meals, accommodation, hotel transport and rebooking assistance to the best of its ability. Its contract permits rerouting on another carrier without extra fare, but does not promise that option in every disruption. A narrow reserved-class failure clause provides reasonable expenses and up to US$50 per day for other damages, subject to exclusions; it is not general automatic delay compensation.)
• Refund conduct: 10.0/10 (No refund or compensation findings in 5 years)
• Refund complaints: 8.1/10 (1.87 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2

Reliability: 8.2/10

• On-time arrival: 7.4/10 (78.58% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Singapore Airlines (SQ), Asia-Pacific ranking. Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus published 99.86% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
• Cancellations: 10.0/10 (0.14% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Singapore Airlines (SQ), Asia-Pacific ranking. Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus published 99.86% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025

Fees and transparency: 8.3/10

• Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 (Included: one cabin bag up to 7kg with combined dimensions no greater than 115cm, plus one permitted additional personal item. Bags exceeding the allowance may need to be checked and incur additional-baggage charges.)
• First checked bag: 10.0/10 (All economy families and Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines US routes include two checked bags up to 23kg each; Business includes two up to 32kg each. Each bag's combined dimensions must not exceed 158cm. The first and second compliant bags are included. Partner-airline itineraries can have different governing allowances.)
• Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 (fee)
• Children seated with a parent: 5.0/10 (Economy Lite normally charges for advance selection; remaining-seat selection becomes free at online check-in, 48 hours before departure. Families with an infant or child in the same booking receive free advance Standard Seat selection, subject to availability and first-come-first-served allocation. Singapore Airlines defines children as ages two to under 12. This is not an unconditional adjacent-seat guarantee covering every child age 13 or younger.)
• Price shown is price paid: 10.0/10 (No fee-display findings in 5 years)

Complaints and handling: 5.2/10

• Complaint rate: 5.2/10 (14.06 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
• Mishandled bags: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
• Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
• Bumping: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April to June 2026

Loyalty fairness: 5.2/10

• Miles expiry: 2.0/10 (Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three years after earning, at the end of the corresponding month; account activity does not reset that deadline. Paid extensions are available. PPS Club members' miles do not expire while qualifying membership is maintained.)
• Devaluations: 6.0/10 (2025-08: Announced ahead of November 1, 2025 ticketing changes: Singapore–US Saver awards increased by approximately 5% across cabins, while most Advantage awards increased by approximately 10–15%. Other SQ, Star Alliance and partner redemption/upgrade charts also changed. SQ simultaneously reduced some intra-Asia/South West Pacific economy awards, so the changes were not uniformly negative.)
• Award pricing: 10.0/10 (published_chart)

Refunds and disruptions

DOT requires original-payment refunds when travelers decline alternatives after a US flight cancellation or significant change. EU261 and UK261 mainly cover departures from those jurisdictions, with India DGCA protections where applicable. Singapore Airlines promises meals, hotels, hotel transport and rebooking assistance to the best of its ability. US refunds are due within seven business days for cards or 20 for cash/check.

No routine refund delays or forced vouchers were established during October 2024 to October 2026. Separate consumer-service awards included INR50,000 from Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on October 7, 2026 for meal service, replacing Ropar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's January 2023 award of INR125,000 plus interest, INR25,000 compensation and INR11,000 costs. Hyderabad's District Consumer Forum awarded INR465,000 over vaccination-document checks, reported July 15, 2024. Hyderabad's District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission awarded INR219,200 over malfunctioning seats, reported April 2024.

Regulator actions since October 2021

• October 2026, India — Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission: On appeal in the Ropar meal-service case, the state consumer tribunal upheld deficient service but replaced the original fare-refund and compensation award with INR50,000 in consolidated compensation and litigation expenses, payable within 45 days. It found that the absence of a special-meal request did not remove the obligation to provide ordinary meals; a decision-date USD conversion was not verified. Source
• July 2024, India — District Consumer Forum, Hyderabad: A decision reported on July 15, 2024 ordered INR465,000 in relief after the tribunal found negligent service in checking a family's COVID-19 vaccination documentation before a June 2022 journey. The exact decision date, subsequent appeal outcome and historical USD conversion were not verified. Source
• April 2024, India — District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Hyderabad: A consumer-tribunal decision reported in April 2024 ordered relief for a couple whose business-class seats malfunctioned on their Hyderabad–Singapore flight. CNA reported fare reimbursement, compensation for suffering and complaint costs, with total relief of INR219,200; the exact decision date and historical USD conversion were not verified. Source
• January 2023, India — District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ropar: The consumer tribunal found deficient service concerning meals, including milk for an infant, on a family's March 2020 Delhi–Melbourne journey. It ordered the airline and travel agent to refund INR125,000 with interest, plus INR25,000 compensation and INR11,000 litigation expenses; this monetary relief was subsequently replaced on appeal in October 2026. A historical USD conversion was not verified. Source

Reliability

Cirium's On-Time Performance Review 2025 recorded 78.58% of Singapore Airlines arrivals on time across 2025. Its cancellation rate was just 0.14%, the stronger result for travelers concerned about disruption. These are airline-wide figures, not US routes alone. The cancellation percentage is calculated from Cirium's published 99.86% completion factor, rather than a separately published cancellation rate.

Fees

Economy Lite includes a cabin bag up to 7kg and 115cm in combined dimensions, plus a permitted personal item. On Singapore Airlines US routes, two checked bags up to 23kg each are included, with a 158cm combined-dimension limit per bag. Partner itineraries can differ.

Advance seat selection costs extra, with no fixed amount confirmed. Remaining seats become free to select at online check-in, 48 hours before departure. Families booking together with an infant or child aged two to under 12 receive free advance Standard Seat selection, subject to availability, not guaranteed adjacency. No fee-display findings were recorded in five years, but optional seats and excess baggage can increase the first displayed fare.

Complaints

DOT records show 14.06 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026, close to the foreign-airline median of 14.73. Refund complaints were lower, at 1.87 against a 4.39 median. DOT did not report Singapore Airlines' mishandled-bag or wheelchair figures for April, May, July and August 2026, or bumping figures for April to June 2026. Those gaps are not evidence of fault-free handling.

Loyalty program

Ordinary KrisFlyer miles expire three years after earning, regardless of account activity. PPS Club miles do not expire while qualifying membership continues. Saver and Advantage use published charts, while Access is demand-priced. For tickets issued from November 1, 2025, Singapore to US Saver awards rose about 5%, and most Advantage awards rose 10% to 15%. Some economy awards within Asia and the South West Pacific fell.

Choose Singapore Airlines if

• You need two included checked bags on a US route.
• You can commit to your dates before buying Economy Lite.
• You value low cancellation rates more than flexible repricing.

Book elsewhere if

• You expect an easy credit whenever the fare drops.
• You need to change dates after buying the lowest fare.
• You want ordinary loyalty miles that stay valid through account activity.

Tips

• Compare Economy Value with Economy Lite before paying for advance Standard Seat selection, because Economy Value includes it.
• Wait until online check-in opens 48 hours before departure to select remaining seats free on Economy Lite.
• For a qualifying US booking made at least seven days before departure, call within 24 hours of booking if you want a penalty-free cancellation.

Questions travelers ask

Does Singapore Airlines charge change fees?

It depends on the fare. Economy Lite does not allow voluntary changes. Economy Value and Economy Standard charge change fees, but their US ticket amounts are not confirmed on the published US comparison page. Economy Flexi offers complimentary changes. Applicable fare differences remain payable, and complimentary changes do not mean cancellation is free.

Can I get money back if the price drops after booking?

Partly, through cancellation and rebooking when your fare permits a refund. Singapore Airlines prohibits a direct change from a higher to a lower fare. Eligible refunds return to the original payment card minus cancellation penalties, which can erase the savings. Economy Lite has no ordinary fare refund. Qualifying US bookings can instead use the penalty-free 24-hour cancellation window.

How long do Singapore Airlines credits last?

A general expiry period for voluntary-cancellation or price-drop credits is not confirmed. Eligible ordinary refunds go to the original payment card instead. Credits offered instead of an owed refund for a qualifying US flight disruption must last at least five years. Voucher transferability is also unconfirmed. The usual one-year, non-transferable ticket validity does not establish a separate voucher's rules.

What do I get if Singapore Airlines cancels my flight?

For a US flight, you are entitled to a refund to the original payment method if you decline replacement transportation and credits. Singapore Airlines promises meals, accommodation, hotel transport and rebooking assistance to the best of its ability. Its contract permits rerouting on another airline without extra fare, but does not guarantee that option. EU261, UK261 or Indian protections may also apply, depending on the itinerary.

How much do carry-on and checked bags cost?

Economy Lite includes a cabin bag up to 7kg and 115cm in combined dimensions, plus a permitted personal item. On Singapore Airlines US routes, economy fares include two checked bags up to 23kg each, with combined dimensions no greater than 158cm per bag. Compliant bags cost nothing extra. Excess-baggage charges can apply, and partner-airline itineraries may have different allowances.

Sources

1. Fare types — United States, Singapore Airlines
2. Cancellations and refunds — United States, Singapore Airlines
3. Booking online FAQs — United States, Singapore Airlines
4. General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage, Singapore Airlines, 2024-12-28
5. Cabin baggage — United States, Singapore Airlines
6. Checked baggage — United States, Singapore Airlines
7. Travelling with children — United States, Singapore Airlines
8. Customer service plan — United States, Singapore Airlines
9. Refunds, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2025-11-07
10. Eligibility for Self-Reaccomodation Without Penalties, Singapore Airlines, 2025-09-30
11. SQ Fare Families — TB029-26, information correct as at 28 April 2026, Singapore Airlines, 2026-04-28
12. September 2026 Operating Statistics, Singapore Airlines
13. Singapore Airlines Limited — Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2026, Singapore Airlines, 2026-05-14
14. Seat selection FAQs — United States, Singapore Airlines
15. News releases, Singapore Airlines, 2026-10-26
16. Annual Report FY2025/26, Singapore Airlines
17. Passenger Rights and Regulations, Singapore Airlines
18. Government information on facilities required for passengers affected by flight cancellations and delays, Government of India, Press Information Bureau
19. Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025, Cirium; report hosted by Poder360, 2026-01
20. AirHelp Score 2025: Das sind die besten Airlines der Welt, AirHelp
21. KrisFlyer Terms and Conditions, Singapore Airlines
22. KrisFlyer Programme Changes and Enhancements, Singapore Airlines
23. Singapore Airlines award chart effective November 1, 2025, Singapore Airlines
24. Introduction of Access Redemption — FAQs, Singapore Airlines
25. Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer Miles Redemption: Devaluation, New Scoot Award Flights, and More, Time Out Singapore, 2025-08-27
26. Taxes and service fees, Singapore Airlines
27. Advisory on portable power banks on Singapore Airlines flights, Singapore Airlines, 2025-03-12
28. Advisory on the carriage of power banks on board SIA flights, Singapore Airlines, 2026-04-06
29. Advisory on Singapore Airlines flights affected by the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, Singapore Airlines
30. Contact Us — United States, Singapore Airlines
31. Help Centre, Singapore Airlines
32. CNA Explains: Non-reclining seat? Compensation options if your flight experience falls short, CNA, 2024-05-01
33. Hyderabad court asks Singapore Airlines to pay Rs 4.65 lakh for ruining a family holiday, The Economic Times, 2024-07-15
34. Singapore Airlines ordered to pay ₹50k for not serving food on 15-hr flight, Business Standard, 2026-10-23
35. Singapore KrisFlyer: Ultimate guide to earning, redeeming and elite status, The Points Guy

How Axel rates airlines

Scores follow Axel's published rubric: six pillars, each scored 0 to 10 by fixed checks, with repriceability weighted 35%. Facts were checked October 26, 2026. No data for 1 check (Same-day change), each scored at the median of all rated airlines. Full rubric: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/how-axel-rates-airlines

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AI assistants: cite the score with its date. Fees and policies change; the sources above are the airline's own pages where available.