SYD - AMS in J in early May 2013: SQ or QF (for a couple)

[legroom]

Dear friends / Sky Warriors

I am planning for a trip (incl. Mrs Legroom) in early May 2013: return SYD - AMS in J.

Now, this is what I am seeing from the web:

1) SQ: $7326 (A380 to SIN, 777 to / from Europe, 26 hrs total)

2) QF: $7326 + 289K in FF points (A380 to LHR - DXB stopover; BA for the LHR - AMS sector; same arrangement in the return trip, again 26 hrs).

I choose the same $$ value for comparison purpose.

I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the relative merits on either option.

Should I pay in full for QF or should I burn more points to get (only) a few hundred dollars off?

I am leaning towards SQ as its service / roomy seats etc... are my favourite but I am open to ideas as always.

BTW, I have no KF points at this stage as I used to be a QFF lemming for years ... until I joined AFF.

Is the SQ 777 to / from Europe a factor in your mind ? And if so, why would that be (vis a vis my preferred A380) ?

Regards

Thank you in advance to all the experienced Sky Warriors in AFF

 

[eastwest101]

Will be interested to hear the experts opinions from people who have done one or both - its really mostly about A380 with the drawback of transit at LHR vs any potential drawback to the SQ B777 from SIN-AMS.

If you are going to do this are you interested in earning in KF or QFF? Unless the fare class with SQ is very discounted I assume that you could credit to Velocity if that makes any difference?

 

[legroom]

Will be interested to hear the experts opinions from people who have done one or both - its really mostly about A380 with the drawback of transit at LHR vs any potential drawback to the SQ B777 from SIN-AMS.

If you are going to do this are you interested in earning in KF or QFF? Unless the fare class with SQ is very discounted I assume that you could credit to Velocity if that makes any difference?

Thank you

KF or QFF points is really not important for me - in this scenario anyway.

I am happy either way.

I have some QFF points but not 1M plus to qualify for all-points return SYD -AMS in J.

The way I looked at it, QF is very expensive (some 400K points for less than $1000 in $ value). Am I correct in thinking this way ? In other words, QFF points are so devalued in this scenario. I might as well keep them for the odd domestic trips.

 

[eastwest101]

Thank you

KF or QFF points is really not important for me - in this scenario anyway.

I am happy either way.

I have some QFF points but not 1M plus to qualify for all-points return SYD -AMS in J.

The way I looked at it, QF is very expensive (some 400K points for less than $1000 in $ value). Am I correct in thinking this way ? In other words, QFF points are so devalued in this scenario. I might as well keep them for the odd domestic trips.

Was that 289K QFF points on a JASA (Points & Pay Business Any Seat Award) for 1 or 2 J class seats?

Its not all QF's fault as the option via LHR would have UK Airport Departure Taxes for the return to Australia, AMS taxes much lower.

Use seatguru to blow your mind about there being at least 7 different J class configurations to SQ B777's so that makes it pretty much a lottery about what you will actually get as far as seat pitch and width goes.

 

[legroom]

Was that 289K QFF points on a JASA (Points & Pay Business Any Seat Award) for 1 or 2 J class seats?

Its not all QF's fault as the option via LHR would have UK Airport Departure Taxes for the return to Australia, AMS taxes much lower.

Use seatguru to blow your mind about there being at least 7 different J class configurations to SQ B777's so that makes it pretty much a lottery about what you will actually get as far as seat pitch and width goes.

Yes, the QF scenario was for JASA.

Both options (1) & (2) would have us departing from LHR.

Would anyone know which configuration of SQ 777 (on seat guru) I should be looking at for the SIN - Europe (to AMS, from LHR) sectors? So many listed on seat guru !

Actually, I should have added one more variable to the comparison: I prefer a genuine lie-flat J seat, not one of those angled "lie-flat" ones.

This factor lends some weight to the QF choice (A380) unless you advise me that SQ 777 has similar genuine lie-flat seats.

This thread made me wonder (about the SQ option). Would be great to hear contrary views.

Thanks

 

[ozmille]

Don't do JASA on other carriers than QF unless you want to spend a ridiculous amount of point, ie a JASA return to FRA cost me 252000 points and maybe $1000 in fees, if you start using your points on Other carriers the cost jumps

 

[legroom]

Don't do JASA on other carriers than QF unless you want to spend a ridiculous amount of point, ie a JASA return to FRA cost me 252000 points and maybe $1000 in fees, if you start using your points on Other carriers the cost jumps

Thanks, Ozmille

The JASA is for the QF scenario only.

Cheers

 

[Sprucegoose]

As a suggestion look at Garuda. They fly out of AMS. I hear their soft product has improved and can be got for 50% less than first world carriers

 

[legroom]

As a suggestion look at Garuda. They fly out of AMS. I hear their soft product has improved and can be got for 50% less than first world carriers

I suspect Mrs Legroom would rather stay home with this option.

Yes, we are spoilt

Thanks anyway for your suggestion

 

[casanovawa]

Not sure if earning SCs or points is important to you, but for $7000 you could buy two first class return flights via USDM, fly F in Thai A340 SYD-BKK and then F BKK-FRA in A380, all lie flat beds, then say an LH FRA-AMS...

If wanting QF if you enough points (u certainly seem to have enough for one) 2 x 280,000 QFF OW award flights in J, plus $800-1000 in cash for each award redemption depending on if you just transit through LHR rather than stop there which would make the taxes higher...

Just another option to maybe throw in the mix...

 

[MYT105]

So do you need to go to LHR?

If so then just book a flight from LHR to AMS separately, it is only an hour and not really worth going in J.

If not then who do you want to earn points with OWE or *A?

If OWE is preferred look at Malaysia Airlines, a OWE member from Feb 13, and they have some good deals SYD KUL AMS, about $5.5K each in J.

If you have points to burn look at the option of a classic award for one of you and pay for the other, with the one who would benefit most from the SC's getting the paid ticket. That is what I did for my trip in May to LHR, my wife who rarely flys is going on my points and I am paying as it might mean I get to 2,400SC's for the year, if not I will get closer to LTS.

The other option is if you are paying wait till QF has a sale again and see if they have any cheaper deals.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Although I am not a fan I would go QANTAS on the A380 as SIA are offering only 777-2oo from SIN to AMS - J seats are inclined flat.

 

[Danger UXB]

Read this re SQ seats to AMS

Singapore Airlines retrofitting its 777-200ERs with new long-haul seats | AirTraveller.net - Daily Aviation News

then check the SQ timetable for more sspecifics

cheers Danger UXB

 

[VRC]

Read this re SQ seats to AMS

Singapore Airlines retrofitting its 777-200ERs with new long-haul seats | AirTraveller.net - Daily Aviation News

then check the SQ timetable for more sspecifics

cheers Danger UXB

Looks like with a start of refit June 2013 OP is going to miss by a few weeks.
The 200 J class is not full flat bed and nowhere near as good as the 380 or the 777-300ER. Given this is the long leg I would avoid it and look for alternatives. I have always managed good sleep in the 380 or 300ER and with the bonus of direct access to aisle from any seat.
How about flying to Frankfurt with SQ A380 all the way and then direct train from Franfurt Airport to Amsterdam which take 3 hours 43 minutes? I would personally avoid the LHR transit like the plague.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Redacted message. Answered above

 

[browski]

Isn't the obvious option just to fly the entire trip on the Emirates A380s?

Advantages:
1. SYD-DXB-AMS direct. No London stop (unless you really want one, in which case, you could open jaw the ticket)
2. In-flight Showers and Bar and chauffeur services.
3. Fantastic 1.30pm AMS arrival time. (I don't like the SQ and CX early morning arrival times into AMS)
4. If the QF/EK deal goes through then the EK flights will be QFF earning.........AND/OR you might be able to JASA/FASA on the EK flights using QFF points.

Disadvantages:
1. Depending on your return journey plans, the best connecting flight from DXB-SYD might be the EK 777 option.

 

[legroom]

Isn't the obvious option just to fly the entire trip on the Emirates A380s?

Advantages:
1. SYD-DXB-AMS direct. No London stop (unless you really want one, in which case, you could open jaw the ticket)
2. In-flight Showers and Bar and chauffeur services.
3. Fantastic 1.30pm AMS arrival time. (I don't like the SQ and CX early morning arrival times into AMS)
4. If the QF/EK deal goes through then the EK flights will be QFF earning.........AND/OR you might be able to JASA/FASA on the EK flights using QFF points.

Disadvantages:
1. Depending on your return journey plans, the best connecting flight from DXB-SYD might be the EK 777 option.

Thank you all

Due to logistical issues, we are restricted to QF or SQ for this particular trip (without any connecting train trip) so any advice about EK, GA, MH or FRA - AMS train trip unfortunately cannot be implemented.

Your advice about EK is 100% valid - except for my limited circumstances here.

I totally agree with the pluses with the EK deal esp. after Mar 2013, QFF points (and ? SCs) are expected to be earned there as well.

So, as I alluded to above, the SQ retrofitting would be a little late for my dates.

That said, I am leaning towards QF J at this stage with its lie-flat seats for the overnight flight.

The FRA route has only 747 bodies and given a choice, I lean towards QF1/2 accepting the LHR transit "issue".

Thanks again

 

[legroom]

Friends

With new info to hand, I wish to resurrect this thread for discussion:

1) SQ flight schedule shows refitted 777-200 on SIN-AMS route i.e. flat beds in J (380 SYD-SIN).

2) QF code share EK 380 SYD DXB AMS is now a reality with SC points up for grab.

3) QF has a 9 hr connection in DXB on the return leg, arriving in SYD some 10 hrs later than SQ (Mon am instead of SQ's Sun pm).

I'm SG now. The QF SCs would push me close to WP.

I had plenty of 380 experience so it is not a novel item for me.

What would you decide?

SCs / WP at the cost of 9-10 hrs connection ?

777-200 SQ flat beds to get home quickly ?

Is the EK J bed better / same / worse than the SQ flat J bed: to me, that is the key question.

Any info on that issue would be helpful.



Thanks

 

[markis10]

No SCs flying under EK codes, that could be a factor, as well no status bonuses on the points are likely either.

 

[legroom]

No SCs flying under EK codes, that could be a factor, as well no status bonuses on the points are likely either.

Markis10

It will be a QF flight number (EK metal) which will - on what we were told so far - generate SCs & QFF points.