Singapore Airlines Blocks Business Throne Seats on Boeing 737 MAX for PPS members

SINGAPORE- One of the World’s best carriers, Singapore Airlines (SQ), has started blocking its coveted “throne seats” on the Boeing 737-8 MAX for Solitaire PPS and PPS Club members.

The airline’s Business Class layout features just two of these seats, making them some of the most in-demand among frequent flyers.

The change applies across routes such as Darwin (DRW), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Penang (PEN), and Phuket (HKT), where the 737-8 MAX operates. Until recently, these premium seats were available to all passengers on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of KrisFlyer status.

Photo: Live and Let’s Fly

Singapore Airlines Blocks Throne Seats

When Singapore Airlines introduced the Business Class cabin for its Boeing 737-8 MAX in 2021, attention quickly centered on the unique 1-1 seating option in Row 12.

These two seats, often called “throne seats,” provide greater privacy, a wider 22-inch seat compared to the standard 19–20 inches, and extra storage. Solo travelers in particular value the design, which avoids the need to share armrests or step over a seatmate.

Other carriers, such as SWISS (LX), have long charged extra fees for comparable seats, but Singapore Airlines initially resisted both fees and elite-only restrictions.

Instead, the airline allowed anyone to secure the seats during advance seat selection, making them one of the most accessible perks in the cabin. That policy has now shifted, Mile Lion reported.

Photo: Live and Let’s Fly

New seat blocking policy for PPS members

Recent booking checks confirm that throne seats 12B and 12J are no longer open for advance selection to standard KrisFlyer members. Alongside bassinet seats 11C and 11H, they are reserved exclusively for Solitaire PPS and PPS Club members.

This effectively places 40% of the 737-8 MAX Business Class cabin under default restriction, leaving only two aisle seats available for early selection by non-PPS passengers.

The practice itself is not entirely new for the airline. Singapore Airlines has historically reserved bulkhead Business Class seats in Row 11 of its Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER fleets for top-tier elites, due to their superior legroom and sleep-friendly layouts. Extending this approach to the 737-8 MAX fits the same logic: rewarding the highest-value customers.

Photo: Robin HARDY

How Non-PPS Members Can Get Access?

Despite the restriction, there is a route for non-PPS travelers. Singapore Airlines lifts seat blocks 96 hours before departure (T-96). At that point, any available throne seats become selectable by all passengers in the cabin.

However, there’s a catch. Between T-96 and T-48, online seat selection is disabled. To secure a throne seat during this window, passengers must call the airline’s service center or use the live chat function, quoting their booking reference and preferred seat. Waiting until T-48, when online check-in begins, increases the risk that the seats will already be taken.

Interestingly, this limitation does not apply when booking through partner airlines. In those cases, passengers may still be able to secure unblocked seats directly through the partner’s platform once the T-96 mark is reached.

Photo: Live and Let’s Fly

What makes the throne seat unique

The Boeing 737-8 MAX Business Class is arranged in a 2-2, 1-1, 2-2 configuration, meaning only two passengers per cabin get direct aisle access with no seatmate: those in the throne seats.

In addition to the extra privacy and wider seat, passengers benefit from twin side tables, a storage compartment with a mirror, and a cubby large enough to hold shoes or a laptop.

The seat also converts into a fully flat 76-inch bed. However, the narrow footwell beneath the armrests can feel restrictive, particularly compared to the more generous bulkhead seats in Row 11. Travelers who prioritize legroom may prefer those instead.

Bottom Line

Singapore Airlines has shifted from an open-access policy to a status-based system for its Boeing 737-8 MAX throne seats, reserving them for Solitaire PPS and PPS Club members.

While the move rewards elite flyers, non-PPS passengers still have a chance to secure these prized seats by acting quickly once seat blocks lift at the 96-hour mark before departure.

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