No more QFi from ADL - how to fly ADL - SIN now?

[Anna]

I want to go to SIN for a couple of days in August to get away from winter. In the old days (before April) it would have been a no-brainer - hop on QF81 ADL - SIN on Thursday afternoon after a morning at work, and fly back on QF on Sunday night via SYD or MEL, back to work on Tuesday. Now it's a harder question.

On Tuesday BA were offering ADL - SYD - SIN J return including my preferred hotel in SIN for $4050 all up. Unfortunately when I went back online on Wednesday to book it, the price had gone up to $4650 (even though there had been no flashing warning about limited seats at that price, when they were showing that warning for their F price). So bad luck BA, you miss out on my business when I almost gave you $4K for a good deal.

I really don't want to spend 12 hours to get to SIN on QF. I did it once in the old days and it was a giant PITA to go via MEL. And if I did do it, I would want to book W, so that limits me to going via SYD and for the dates I want the W price is showing the dreaded exclamation mark "your flight from Sydney to Singapore will be in economy". (I digress - seriously QF, WTF? Displaying W price for Y travel? What idiot would book that?). Even if W was available it would still be a night flight back. QF in J is not cheap enough to attract me for the dates I want. The cheapest I can get is $3820 which does not include a hotel, and for a quick trip that price is too self indulgent for me.

I can fly SQ direct on the dates I want for $990 in Y and return on a daytime flight, but I've only got VA gold status, no SQ status and the points earn on SQ is atrocious for that price. Also, there'd be no QF SCs (obviously).

I can fly MH from ADL - KUL direct in Y for $731, return on a daytime flight KUL - MEL, and fly MEL - ADL at 7am next day on a red e-deal, ready to go to work. I can book KUL - SIN on MH in J for $450 and earn 80 SCs for that, which makes 145 SCs for the trip for approx $1200 all up.

So I'm leaning towards MH for the combination of SC earn, price and daytime flights, unless someone has a good reason why it would be a good idea to start accruing SQ status credits instead or take some other option that I have not thought of. Any advice?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Whether you go via KUL, SYD or MEL will not be much of a difference time wise.

If you really wish to avoid a night flight on the return leg it would appear as though SQ are your best option.

If it were me I would be going QF via MEL or SYD and booking via our favourite South American country during the next sale (or, failing that, the luck of the Irish usually helps). It might take longer but at least as a WP (as your profile suggests) you have the F lounge and a big points bonus. Plus, it would be at least half the price of SQ.

 

[Fantic125]

Hi Anna,
In the last 3 years I've flown ADL-SIN direct (QF081 x 2, SQ278 x 5) and 3 other times via SYD or BNE.
My SQ flights have been booked W or H and earnt the full 3,359 miles (for *A).
Depending on how often you go, it may be worthwhile looking at purchasing a United Club membership for 1 year while you build up your *A status.
If you're coming to the ADL drinks this afternoon I can give you a bit more info.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

well Jetstar just announced daily Adelaide-Darwin flights to connect on JQ to Singapore. so there you have it. Qantas wants you on JQ I'm afraid

 

[markis10]

Why not SQ J using miles bought through Avianca when they have a bonus, you need 95000 return that cost $15 per 1000 when they have a promo and then around $150 odd I taxes, should be just under $1600. Next bonus should be June.




Flights Departs Arrive Duration Stops Operated by Cabin Product
SQ278 Adelaide (ADL) 10:40 Singapore (SIN) 16:35 07:25 0 Singapore Airlines (SQ) Business Business Cabin








Returning August, 12th, 2013
Singapore (SIN) to Adelaide(ADL)
Flights Departs Arrive Duration Stops Operated by Cabin Product
SQ279 Singapore (SIN) 23:55 Adelaide (ADL) 08:15+1 06:50 0 Singapore Airlines (SQ) Business Business Cabin

 

[Anna]

Qantas wants you on JQ I'm afraid

I'm afraid too. Very afraid. In fact that is exactly what I was afraid of.

Thanks for the ideas guys, I knew AFF would come up with other choices

See you tonight Fantic.

 

[JohnK]

I'm afraid too. Very afraid. In fact that is exactly what I was afraid of.

So I am not the only one afraid of Jetstar.

Isn't Qantas to SYD/MEL and then on the late night Emirates flights a viable alternative? My reluctance has been Emirates economy but to Asia it may not be such an issue as the flight is a little shorter.

 

[Anna]

So I am not the only one afraid of Jetstar.

Isn't Qantas to SYD/MEL and then on the late night Emirates flights a viable alternative? My reluctance has been Emirates economy but to Asia it may not be such an issue as the flight is a little shorter.

Would an ADL-PER-SIN flight work? It would depart ADL morning and PER around noon and arrive into PER around 2:00am and
ADL around 6:00am. I think loads would be good combining both cities.

I am allergic to Jetstar. I break out in a rash just thinking about flying with them.

On the return leg SIN - ADL the best of a bad bunch is to go via SYD or MEL because there is at least a chance of getting 4-5 hours sleep. I would prefer a daytime flight but would take SYD or MEL in preference to landing in PER or DRW in the middle of the night and waiting 2+ hours for the onward leg to ADL.

On a different note, much to my surprise the cheapest J fare ADL - SIN is with QF at the moment :shock:, not SQ or MH.

 

[JohnK]

I am allergic to Jetstar. I break out in a rash just thinking about flying with them.

How come you can get away with saying that about Jetstar?

Is it because you are prettier and smarter?

 

[medhead]

Surely Anna's fear of being forced onto JQ not a fear of the airline itself. I fear the orange cancer but I'm not scared of JQ.

The MH option sounds pretty good. But doesn't VA gold mean something with SQ?

 

[JohnK]

Surely Anna's fear of being forced onto JQ not a fear of the airline itself. I fear the orange cancer but I'm not scared of JQ.

It sounds like to me that Anna does not want go anywhere near JQ. Not just being forced onto them.

I could be interpreting it wrong though....

 

[Isochronous]

I'm with Anna on this. I never want to fly JQ.

 

[serfty]

It sounds like to me that Anna does not want go anywhere near JQ. Not just being forced onto them.

I could be interpreting it wrong though....

It believe it is simpler - perhaps Anna basically does not want to travel in coach or Jetsaver/JetFlex for that matter

 

[medhead]

It sounds like to me that Anna does not want go anywhere near JQ. Not just being forced onto them.

I could be interpreting it wrong though....

I'm with Anna on this. I never want to fly JQ.

Fearing having no choice does not mean you have to fear the airline itself. Choosing to never fly on JQ does not mean you fear the airline. Following the thread, it seems the fear is that QF wants Anna on JQ. That is something to fear, the Orange Cancer, that QF wants us on JQ. I fear that, I do not fear JQ, I fear Qantas' orange cancer. I don't fear the symptom, I fear the illness.

 

[Deleted User]

Im jumping on the SQ bird in a few weeks. No need for the deathstar product when there's soon to be 12 direct flights.

At least SQ are looking after ADL pax

Book with anyone other than qantas for this route is what I say, why support them when they pulled their support from ADL already... I dont support such foolish activity from QFi hence take my business straight to their opposition.

Just in case I'm not making myself clear Stephanie, I won't be using the orange product... bring back the red one...!

 

[Anna]

What I'm afraid of is the orange cancer metastasising and spreading over many more of QFi's routes until QFi is moribund and lying on its deathbed when a gargantuan nurse called EK will come in and deliver the final smothering with a pillow over QFi's face. Then she will raid QFi's bedside cupboard for any valuables that might be lying around such as SYD - LAX rights or the QFF program, slip them into her pocket and lumber off back where she came from, leaving QFi lifeless, cold and mourned by many.

Ahem. Sorry, where was I? That's right, stuck in ADL trying to get to SIN. Funny story about that. MH's website has so many layers of security that I couldn't penetrate them all to book on the iPhone and then when I got to a desktop to book it the next day, the price of the KUL - SIN sector was doubled . So now both BA and MH have missed out on my business for abruptly removing good deals without notice.

 

[Fruitcake]

The MH option sounds pretty good. But doesn't VA gold mean something with SQ?

Yup... Silver Kris lounge access in ADL, KrisFlyer Gold lounge in SIN, a little extra baggage, priority checkin and boarding. Regardless of whether you're on SQ or VA codes.

However, no priority seating, which could be a "biggie" in Y. Perhaps QF WPs can get better seats in MH Y than VA SGs can get in SQ Y.

Also re Anna's earlier note on the poor points earn - booking VA codes rather than SQ codes tends to give better base points earn and also earns the 75% status bonus. I have no idea what the price differential is for flying on VA codes though, it might be uneconomic.

 

[markis10]

Also re Anna's earlier note on the poor points earn - booking VA codes rather than SQ codes tends to give better base points earn and also earns the 75% status bonus. I have no idea what the price differential is for flying on VA codes though, it might be uneconomic.

If its E class you are better of booking SQ for more points.