SQ Business Savers...going, going gone???

[lovetravellingoz]

Ok..I am new to redeeming on SQ and am about to book my frtst rewards in J, and so I have been studying up on routes etc..and reading various forums to get the pros & cons and various options.

SQ has stubbornly held onto it's fuel fines which are very high. However this is offset by 15% off for on-line bookes and an econimcal Saver rate in the first pace and so the "total" package is still quite attractive even if one cannot fly on the newer planes.

Bottom line as I currently see it is that for many destinations that SQ can over good value rewaeds in J & F, provided you can redeema Saver award.

The Catch 22 is that the number of routes for Saver Awards is rapidly shrinking as SQ update their planes either completely, or with new upgraded seats.

Indeed there is eaven some possibility that in 2010 that the planes all coming to MEL may have been upgraded = no Saver Awards.

So either SQ starts to open up redemptions to it's newer planes at Saver Rates (and Premium Cabins are often quite empty at present post-GFC starting..)...or SQ Premium Cabin redemptions will be expensive in relation to other airlines. If so my redemption on SQ Premium Awards could be over after only the one trip

The one saving grace is that Partner *A Awards booked via SQ are quite attractive (though more expensive in many, but not all cases, than Saver Awards point -wise) especially as the ++taxes seem to normally be lower as the other *A airlines do not seem to be charging theffuel fines that SQ still insists upon.


So the ability to get saver awards seem to be declining.....with SQ being very mum about what their future will be.

So, does anyone know of any developments in this, and in particular for those of us based in Oz?

 

[Evan]

Have heard nothing here in SIN, but i have seen and others have spotted the very occasional saver J redemption on 77W's so you never know what may happen, i would assume the will keep them offer them on more routes but only the ones that are really empty flights.
E

 

[dajop]

Rumour has it the upgrade of the current 777-300 regional fleet will start shortly (if not already). Also it has been suggested that this will be upgraded to new leather angled lie flat like the new regional A330. As saver awards are still available on the regional A330, I would not be that concerned should the replace the existing 777-300 flight pair with the upgraded 773.

What will happen to the 747-400 flight pair - not sure - I guess it could go either way, to an A380 or to a regional 773. If the former, then that may restrict saver award availability (although that is a lot of J seats to fill. As for what happens to the 77W route who knows! At the moment 3 months is a longtime in the airline world, no point in trying to predict 12 months out!

 

[lovestotravel]

When will the upgrades of the 773 finish ?
When are the 744's scheduled to be out of the fleet ?

 

[flyingjunkie]

The Catch 22 is that the number of routes for Saver Awards is rapidly shrinking as SQ update their planes either completely, or with new upgraded seats.

Indeed there is eaven some possibility that in 2010 that the planes all coming to MEL may have been upgraded = no Saver Awards.

...........

So, does anyone know of any developments in this, and in particular for those of us based in Oz?

J Saver redemptions as mentioned in an earlier post are available on the new regional J product on the A330 flying to PER,ADL and BNE, and in the near future, to NGO and KIX.

The new regional J is HEAPS better than the old J on 747/777.

You *could* connect from MEL to either of these OZ cities on a cheap-ish fare, ADL would be closest for you I'm guessing. It may only add about $200 to your cost for a far greater experience.

From what I'm reading around the traps, the 747 will be gone from all routes by March-ish 2010.

Unfortunately as you say, the routes with J/F Saver redemptions are rapidly shrinking.

Which reminds me, I need to book that saver F quicksmart.....

 

[JohnK]

From what I'm reading around the traps, the 747 will be gone from all routes by March-ish 2010.

Even ATH? Darn! I was thinking of redeeming my Amex MR points to send my mother in business class to ATH in June/July 2010.

 

[Keith009]

Even ATH? Darn! I was thinking of redeeming my Amex MR points to send my mother in business class to ATH in June/July 2010.

ATH is served by 2 class 772ERs which are available for JCL Saver awards.

747 routes will be replaced by either A380 or 77W, which will render them ineligible for Savers/*A awards in J/F. However you could make a v advanced Saver redemption and be potentially 'upgraded'...

 

[JohnK]

ATH is served by 2 class 772ERs which are available for JCL Saver awards.

747 routes will be replaced by either A380 or 77W, which will render them ineligible for Savers/*A awards in J/F. However you could make a v advanced Saver redemption and be potentially 'upgraded'...

That sounds fantastic. I was under the impression that SIN-ATH was operated by 747 but 2 class 777 makes sense. Am I right in assuming SYD-SIN will not be be an issue of finding saver awards to connect to the SIN-ATH flight.

Not sure of the exact dates yet. Also my mother may not feel comfortable in business class and prefer to be with the common people down the back. :shock:

 

[Keith009]

That sounds fantastic. I was under the impression that SIN-ATH was operated by 747 but 2 class 777 makes sense. Am I right in assuming SYD-SIN will not be be an issue of finding saver awards to connect to the SIN-ATH flight.

I am not sure when the 744's are going on SYDSIN but if the speculated Mar2010 date is correct, I'd advise making any Saver reservation asap. Otherwise you could get her a cheap flight to BNE, ADL or MEL and put her on one of the flights where JCL Savers awards would still be available - preferably the A330 for the new Regional JCL seats, if not the regional 773s.

 

[JohnK]

I am not sure when the 744's are going on SYDSIN but if the speculated Mar2010 date is correct, I'd advise making any Saver reservation asap. Otherwise you could get her a cheap flight to BNE, ADL or MEL and put her on one of the flights where JCL Savers awards would still be available - preferably the A330 for the new Regional JCL seats, if not the regional 773s.

Thanks for the helpful information. Act quickly or risk further connections. My mother is one of those people who wants to go the most direct possible so a connection in Australia is out of the question.

No great loss if I it can't be done. She will be just as happy going all the way in WHY....

 

[flyingjunkie]

Am I right in assuming SYD-SIN will not be be an issue of finding saver awards to connect to the SIN-ATH flight.

Um, if the date of travel is after March 2010, you may not be able to get a J saver redemption for Syd-Sin.

Can your mum make the trip this year before Sept 09 to take advantage of the KF Anniversary 25% discount on redemptions in all classes? :idea:

 

[JohnK]

Um, if the date of travel is after March 2010, you may not be able to get a J saver redemption for Syd-Sin.

Can your mum make the trip this year before Sept 09 to take advantage of the KF Anniversary 25% discount on redemptions in all classes? :idea:

Unfortunately it has to be next year as this year my father and I are going in August/September on a Oneworld award.

I guess one day the business saver awards will return once the 77W and A380 are not so new....

 

[flyingjunkie]

I guess one day the business saver awards will return once the 77W and A380 are not so new....

Hopefully sooner rather than later.
And / Or that SQ will introduce the A330 or retrofitted 772 (with the new regional J) on MEL and SYD routes.

On another forum, some believe this will happen by end 2009.

 

[StevePER]

Business savers are already starting to show up on SIN-ZRH (77W)

 

[flyingjunkie]

Business savers are already starting to show up on SIN-ZRH (77W)

I believe SQ explained that a system glitch caused that.
There has been no change in SQ's policy on saver redemptions on 388/77W as yet.

 

[auriga]

Currently there is business class saver availability on the 380 flight ( SQ222) from SYD to SIN for end of this year/ next year. Unfortunately only 747 available for the return.

 

[futaris]

It also appeared for AKL-SIN (77W).

 

[flyingjunkie]

Currently there is business class saver availability on the 380 flight ( SQ222) from SYD to SIN for end of this year/ next year. Unfortunately only 747 available for the return.

Crikey.
There are too.
I stand corrected.
I hope this heralds more Business Savers to come.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

No such generosity out of MEL for the newe planes.

Also of interest at least to me as my party is 4 in number.....that one can get 4 J tickets on the 747, but only 2 on the 380 (at least on the days I looked at).

 

[albatross710]

I wonder if Award saver availability on the 'newer aircraft will increase as the 'newer' aircraft start to make up a higher % of the fleet.

So, at present, the A380 is a premium and new aircraft,as the number of these aircraft increase then they become more mainstream and 'probably' so will the award availability on the aircraft.