Looking for a good fare for a OW flight to Singapore, April 2012

[Dougo]

I have been looking for a one way flight to Singapore in April 2012 however all the fares seem to start around the $800+ range for cattle class. I'd really prefer a direct flight landing in Singapore in mid to late afternoon. However I've noticed that lots of flights depart at various times during the day and have stops at various cities making a 8-9hr flight into 12hr + flight (no thanks !!)

My TA said a few weeks ago that specials should be out soon ... but they're not.

Does anyone have any idea or information as to when I could expect to find a better price for our flights?

I'll also need a flight from the US in June 2012 (we're doing a cruise from Singapore to Vancouver and then touring around for a bit before flying home), and I know it's too early to look for flights now.

We've both got sufficient points to "pay" for the flights but I'd prefer not to use them at this stage - I'd rather save them for a RTW flight in 2013.

Thanks

 

[Hvr]

Where from?

 

[Dougo]

Oh yeah, that'd help !!

Sydney.

Thanks

 

[wingspan]

Not sure if you're keen but you could always fly SYD-DRW-SIN on JQ for about $400 plus a $55 fee to "max" the fare, thus earning status credits and frequent flyer points. Provided there are no delays (but who knows if there will be or not) then it will be a 10.5hr trip.

That's assuming you're wanting to earn with QF, and not another OW programme.

 

[Dougo]

Not sure if you're keen but you could always fly SYD-DRW-SIN on JQ for about $400 plus a $55 fee to "max" the fare, thus earning status credits and frequent flyer points. Provided there are no delays (but who knows if there will be or not) then it will be a 10.5hr trip.

That's assuming you're wanting to earn with QF, and not another OW programme.

Thanks for that suggestion - that's better than 12 hours+. On that fare would DRW be a stop over or just a refueling stop? And presumably when booking I would have the option to "max" the fare to earn status credits / FF points.

We have QF FF and Air New Zealand but I'm a little jaded with AirNZ so I don't go out of my way to earn any points with them or partner airlines.

 

[wingspan]

Thanks for that suggestion - that's better than 12 hours+. On that fare would DRW be a stop over or just a refueling stop? And presumably when booking I would have the option to "max" the fare to earn status credits / FF points.

We have QF FF and Air New Zealand but I'm a little jaded with AirNZ so I don't go out of my way to earn any points with them or partner airlines.

I haven't flown this particular route with JQ before but both JQ75 and JQ57 (see below) seem to be daily services. There is a 1hr 15min clearance between arrival and departure - so it probably (in an airport like DRW) won't be too tight. I don't know how well JQ coordinate times between the flight. But they sell the route like this so you'd think that they would be accommodating even if your flight to Darwin was slightly delayed.

Departing Flight 1 JQ 75
Departing: 14:00 PM, Fri, Mar 30, 2012 - Sydney - Domestic Terminal - T2
Arrives: 17:05 PM, Fri, Mar 30, 2012 - Darwin
Departing Flight 2 JQ 57
Departing: 18:20 PM, Fri, Mar 30, 2012 - Darwin - International Terminal -
Arrives: 21:20 PM, Fri, Mar 30, 2012 - Singapore

I'm sure other will have flown this route though and will be able to offer more details

(To "max" the fare it's only $55 or so, quite reasonable for the points and status credits gained, IMO.)

JQ haven't released April fares yet. So keep an eye out soon!

 

[richie9x]

You're pretty limited with direct flights from SYD-SIN. Only have Qantas, BA and Singapore flying that segment. And they tend to have some of the more expensive prices. Seeing as your travel is a fair way off you could wait around for a sale to occur.

Surprisingly BNE and MEL both have more airlines flying to SIN.

Another option is Malaysian airlines. You would be flying a bit further. But because both legs will be international the transit will be a bit faster.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Don't worry too much just yet. Considering that the Oct - Dec quarter fares still aren't on special yet, there's still quite a bit of time before we get to April 2012.

If you want to arrive in SIN in the afternoon, SQ is the only non-stop option. BA/QF arrive after sunset.

For the JQ SYD-DRW-SIN, it is sold as a connecting flight. This would involve a change of planes, but given how small DRW is, you would still have a spare half an hour to get a little bit of food (although choices are extremely limited) if it's on time.

If the SYD-DRW sector is very late, you'll find that the DRW-SIN flight would've left without you. In which case, you'll be taken to a nearby hotel, with small amounts of credits given for dinner, breakfast, and phone calls. You are left out in the cold for lunch, however, and it's a pretty long wait for the next DRW-SIN, departing 24 hours after the one which you were supposed to be on. In such case, I would recommend hiring a car from the airport, and go see some crocodiles.

 

[Dougo]

JQ haven't released April fares yet. So keep an eye out soon!

Do you know if there is an industry "standard" as to when specials are released "X" months / weeks / days out?

QF released some specials this week (?) for flights to various places including Singapore but for travel up to mid September - with the exception of some dates.

I put a post out to the FF community as I started to wonder when the fares would be released ... and judging by the fares offered, it's definitely worth hanging out for.

 

[Dougo]

You're pretty limited with direct flights from SYD-SIN. Only have Qantas, BA and Singapore flying that segment. And they tend to have some of the more expensive prices. Seeing as your travel is a fair way off you could wait around for a sale to occur.

Surprisingly BNE and MEL both have more airlines flying to SIN.

Another option is Malaysian airlines. You would be flying a bit further. But because both legs will be international the transit will be a bit faster.

Yes I know - I did think about that and I'd love to get to Thailand tho' my other half isn't keen. Two or three times now we've actualy had hotels booked and flights booked once but changed our plans due to airport closures (red shirts) and also because another leg of the trip was canned by the operator.

But seeing tho' we'll be away from home for about 2 months, I think we're best off forgetting Thailand this time 'round.

 

[Dougo]

Don't worry too much just yet. Considering that the Oct - Dec quarter fares still aren't on special yet, there's still quite a bit of time before we get to April 2012.

If you want to arrive in SIN in the afternoon, SQ is the only non-stop option. BA/QF arrive after sunset.

For the JQ SYD-DRW-SIN, it is sold as a connecting flight. This would involve a change of planes, but given how small DRW is, you would still have a spare half an hour to get a little bit of food (although choices are extremely limited) if it's on time.

If the SYD-DRW sector is very late, you'll find that the DRW-SIN flight would've left without you. In which case, you'll be taken to a nearby hotel, with small amounts of credits given for dinner, breakfast, and phone calls. You are left out in the cold for lunch, however, and it's a pretty long wait for the next DRW-SIN, departing 24 hours after the one which you were supposed to be on. In such case, I would recommend hiring a car from the airport, and go see some crocodiles.

Hmm ... I guess I'll just have to wait it out ... as for the crocs in Darwin, I've seen "Sweetheart" at the Darwin Museum and even tho he/she is stuffed, he/she is still pretty scary !!

 

[serfty]

There is NB X award availability every day in April.

You can get a one-way YASA (economy any seat award) in April for SYD-SIN at a cost of between 57,106 <-> QFF points or 30,000 QFF points plus $273.

A classic economy award costs 30,000 QFF and $218.

Note that an NB would earn nearly 4000 QFF points and 30 SC's on the YASA.

 

[Dougo]

There is NB X award availability every day in April.

You can get a one-way YASA (economy any seat award) in April for SYD-SIN at a cost of between 57,106 <-> QFF points or 30,000 QFF points plus $273.

A classic economy award costs 30,000 QFF and $218.

Note that an NB would earn nearly 4000 QFF points and 30 SC's on the YASA.

That sounds good !! Will check it out now

Thanks for your help

 

[Dougo]

Just to follow up - I've booked seats on Qantas using our FF points.

Now all I have to do is book our flight home from LAX sometime in late June 2012 so I'll be keeping an eye out for seat availability soon

Thanks again for your help.

 

[dajop]

Just to follow up - I've booked seats on Qantas using our FF points.

Good choice! I was just going to suggest that FF points is the best way as neither QF or SQ offer particularly attractive one way fares .... ever. JQ yes, MH yes but not these two (my point of reference is MEL-SIN, and EK & JQ offer good one way fares but never QF or SQ ... can get JQ for $300, EK for $500 but SQ/QF nearly always around $700+ for one way .. marginally more for return). In situations like this, points really come into their own.