SQ25/26

[MathNerd]

Planning a trip to the US of A mid next year, and planning to get there (from MEL), on SQ, all in Suites ( ).
I've been running dummy award searches over the past month, just to gauge things like availability and timetables etc.
To get the entire journey in Suites, I'll have to take the red-eye SQ218 MEL-SIN (which I experienced at the end of January), and then "slum" it out for 18 hours in SIN (of course leaving the airport, exploring the city and having meals at TPR), then trek it out to JFK via FRA. Here's a randomly chosen date's trip:

In fact, it would be preferable to start the journey at AKL, purely to elongate the flying time and hence maximise the experience in Suites.

Has anyone travelled to the US using this routing (MEL-SIN-FRA-JFK)? From my reading everywhere, SQ25/26 is notorious for horrible availability (presumably due to it being the only route into/out of the US in Suites), so I just want to be extra prepared for the tough battle ahead.

Any tips, tricks and recent data points will be helpful, and very much appreciated.

 

[MathNerd]

wanting a stopover I can understand... missing out on a much better 'experience' on a day flight on the off-chance your wife might not caviar is a little harder There's a big difference between a red-eye sleeper supper and a full meal (the latter being much more elaborate.)

You're right, a day flight would be a lot better.
In fact, having a look at different options, it might be wise to fly over to AKL and commence the journey there (others would call this insane insanity of the highest order, but here on AFF this would be gold). Here's an example journey, and it is a day flight, all on A380s

 

[MathNerd]

On a related note, has anyone here who's booked an itinerary including SQ25/26 had a successful booking departing MEL/SYD/AKL on a Saturday/Sunday? From my dummy bookings I only see availability granted when the departure is during the working week (granted SQ218 on a Monday departure is effectively Sunday night), but we're really planning on departing Saturday morning (so Friday night), and SQ doesn't seem to release anything (even waitlist is not offered)! Is it a case of "professionals" grabbing it at the second they're released and hence SQ not showing anything (I've tried looking at (what I believe is) the moment SQ releases seats for redemption and keep seeing the same results. Have tried dummy bookings over the past 3 weeks!

 

[Mr H]

The only real rule with redemptions is to do things the way you want. Many of us like to do as many sectors as possible, as many types of aircraft, as many airlines, etc. Some of us like to fly as direct as possible (e.g. my wife). But there is a risk about being seduced into sub-optimal spend.

Basically, Suites is First Class on an A380. They have the seats in a little cupboard and now they have a separate chair and bed, and you get a gold patch on your boarding pass instead of a red one, but it's basically First Class. I have read that First Class is actually more comfortable. I would not pick a sub-optimal route or time to preference Suites over First Class.

Similarly, lounges are (usually) nicer than the rest of the airport, but they are still just waiting rooms. The food and drink they serve is less good than you'd get in the city (especially Singapore) and less good than you'll get on the plane in First/Suites. So I wouldn't plan a trip around an airline lounge.

Obviously YMMV, but if you are already going to experience Suites on the SIN-FRA-JFK, why not sample the First Class on the 777, do a daytime flight, and do a sub 24 hour transit in SIN to experience Little India or Chinatown?

 

[Mr H]

On a related note, has anyone here who's booked an itinerary including SQ25/26 had a successful booking departing MEL/SYD/AKL on a Saturday/Sunday?

I am finding limited availability in F redemptions on a variety of routes on weekends - both single sectors and married sectors.

 

[daft009]

For brekky, do try the Vada (Wadai is what it was listed on the menu IIRC), it's pretty good. Hailing from BLR myself, Vada is a staple part of the breakfast diet so it's awesome to have a shot at that in the luxury of TPR! However, having the authentic version in BLR itself is nothing short of extraordinary.

I too love my vada, drenched in sambar and chutney.. murugan idli shop in little India is a favourite of mine. Tried MTR last time too but wasn't overly impressed.