Significant aircraft changes for MEL flights?

[smit0847]

Im confused - Singapore Airlines S16 Operation Changes as of 27APR15 | Airline Route

This says 773 MEL services to be upgraded to 77W, A330 services upgraded to 772. Flightmapper does not reflect this (perhaps yet), neither does SQ.com

SQ218 especially is all over the place over the next few months- swapping from 773 to 77W to A380 even on a daily basis.

Does anyone know whats going on? MEL has been pretty consistent for years now its all over the place?

 

[TomVexille]

I want the 380 back

 

[dajop]

Interesting. All services will have the 1-2-1 business class product instead of the current mix of 1-2 services with 1-2-1 and 2-3 services with regional 2-2-2 product. The 77W may be a mix between new/improved lie flat and original lie flat product. (I understand 227/8 is changing to new product). Also, likely to improve fleet utilization as 227 can turn around to become 238.

Although the change is almost a year away, so it's possible (highly likely) that there are more changes between now and then. I have been travelling between MEL & SIN regularly for almost 10 years now, and MEL usually gets changed at whim and often. Sometimes with every flight operated by a different aircraft type.

 

[smit0847]

Interesting. All services will have the 1-2-1 business class product instead of the current mix of 1-2 services with 1-2-1 and 2-3 services with regional 2-2-2 product. The 77W may be a mix between new/improved lie flat and original lie flat product. (I understand 227/8 is changing to new product). Also, likely to improve fleet utilization as 227 can turn around to become 238.

Although the change is almost a year away, so it's possible (highly likely) that there are more changes between now and then. I have been travelling between MEL & SIN regularly for almost 10 years now, and MEL usually gets changed at whim and often. Sometimes with every flight operated by a different aircraft type.

I totally missed the bit about the changes not starting until next year!

 

[seanpodge]

Could a change from A330 to B772 really be called an upgrade? If it's one of those old cabins from 15-20 years ago, I'd call it a downgrade no matter how many more seats may be available.

I want the 380 back

I thought that it got sacrificed when SQ started flying the A380 to PEK and India?

 

[dajop]

Could a change from A330 to B772 really be called an upgrade? If it's one of those old cabins from 15-20 years ago, I'd call it a downgrade no matter how many more seats may be available.

It's an upgrade to a 777-200ER, not a plain 772. These have almost all (by then I imagine all) been refitted with the lie flat 1-2-1 business class with a refresh in the economy cabin. Even if it was only to a 772 - it would the regional variety with similar J seats to the A330 (arguably an upgrade as they are slightly more spacious, as they have the same layout 2-2-2 with a slightly wider cabin in the 777).

It most definitely won't be an old 772 with cradle seats in J. Even on the short hauls, these are becoming rarer these days.

 

[TomVexille]

I thought that it got sacrificed when SQ started flying the A380 to PEK and India?

It did, and I want it back in MEL.

 

[smit0847]

It did, and I want it back in MEL.

Do SQ have any more A380s on order? From memory they have about 19 already delivered? Given the Australian capacity increases (SYD is already going 5 x daily on some days) it seems like they could actually do with a few more? They could buy MHs?

 

[TomVexille]

Do SQ have any more A380s on order? From memory they have about 19 already delivered? Given the Australian capacity increases (SYD is already going 5 x daily on some days) it seems like they could actually do with a few more? They could buy MHs?

Yes. They have ordered 5 more for delivery around 2018-19. Although they may be looking at starting to retire airframes by then.

 

[soorox]

The A380's will be back for 2 periods this year; June-July (SQ227/228) and September-October (SQ217/218) on selected weeks. Right now no firm plans for them to be back permanently however as a consolation prize we are already receive the new 77WN product on SQ227/228.

All flights will have 1-2-1 in J and it currently looks like all 3 flights (SQ217(8)/SQ227(8)/SQ237(8)) will still retain 8 F seats, so that means Y+ is not planned yet.

The 77E is definitely an upgrade for J pax as the product will be the long haul product configured 1-2-1, MEL will no longer see regional product on all services which is great to see.

There's also the chance of an A350 hopping on sometime next year.

 

[lovestotravel]

No A380 means that I have to go through Sydney for my next flight

Suites is far superior to F

 

[hummel]

The A380's will be back for 2 periods this year; June-July (SQ227/228) and September-October (SQ217/218) on selected weeks. Right now no firm plans for them to be back permanently however as a consolation prize we are already receive the new 77WN product on SQ227/228.

All flights will have 1-2-1 in J and it currently looks like all 3 flights (SQ217(8)/SQ227(8)/SQ237(8)) will still retain 8 F seats, so that means Y+ is not planned yet.

The 77E is definitely an upgrade for J pax as the product will be the long haul product configured 1-2-1, MEL will no longer see regional product on all services which is great to see.

There's also the chance of an A350 hopping on sometime next year.

I thought you were really excited with all the smilies...and then realized it's just the number 8!

All good though, love the a380!

 

[seanpodge]

It's an upgrade to a 777-200ER, not a plain 772. These have almost all (by then I imagine all) been refitted with the lie flat 1-2-1 business class with a refresh in the economy cabin. Even if it was only to a 772 - it would the regional variety with similar J seats to the A330 (arguably an upgrade as they are slightly more spacious, as they have the same layout 2-2-2 with a slightly wider cabin in the 777).

It most definitely won't be an old 772 with cradle seats in J. Even on the short hauls, these are becoming rarer these days.

Good to hear. The old 772 has been a regular feature for the overnight PEK-SIN flight that I've taken for a couple of years now. Will be on a 772ER according to my SQ booking for a SIN-PVG flight in August, so I look forward to seeing if they've really improved it in Y (shouldn't be hard).

It did, and I want it back in MEL.

SQ could probably order a few more really. Certainly their flights out of PEK and PVG have been well patronised from my own observations. Visa free travel for PR China citizens to Singapore would probably help.

 

[Melburnian1]

seanpodge, good observation about the mainland Chinese patronage and that's important, but as others on AFF keep reminding me, it's the yield per seat that really counts.

I notice that SQ are discounting fairly close to departure dates ex MEL (say a month out) with cheap fares to MNL and CEB among other destinations (A$770 return including all taxes and charges was one I noticed on a third party website) but historically it's an airline that wouldn't be in the top few worldwide who heavily discount their seats. Perhaps that says something about 'market' conditions out of Oz with the $A having dropped.

 

[dajop]

I notice that SQ are discounting fairly close to departure dates ex MEL (say a month out) with cheap fares to MNL and CEB among other destinations (A$770 return including all taxes and charges was one I noticed on a third party website) but historically it's an airline that wouldn't be in the top few worldwide who heavily discount their seats. Perhaps that says something about 'market' conditions out of Oz with the $A having dropped.

This is a true comment. Over the six years since I've been living in SIN, a combination of AUD and Australian fares meant that it was always sensible to book flights from Singapore to MEL (as people tend to do buy return fares from where they live). I know reading AFF, it's also common for Australians to do nested returns (i.e get a one way to Asia and then buy return fares from Asia to Australia for the next trip etc). I think with the drop in the AUD, the tables have turned, not only are AUD fares cheaper in foreign currency the demand is also softer. I'm now buying nested returns from MEL ... for example last one was MEL-HKG return in flexi saver on SQ (full miles earning, $20 change fee), with one month stopovers in SIN in each direction (with just three days in HKG!), and it was certainly cheaper than me doing SIN-HKG return and SIN-MEL return on Jetstar, let alone SQ or QF(to MEL)/CX(to HKG). Next one looking at longer stopovers in SIN and 3-4 days in Danang.