SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[MEL_Traveller]

Who books so that transit time in SQ is longer just so they get better use of J lounge. Optimum time?

I book transit time just for the duty free, not the lounge! So I book 3 hours rather than 1.

The lounge is neither here nor there. I don’t think the lounge is worth going out of your way for… but a nice to have if your layover is on the longer side.

 

[Mr H]

I try to book overnight transit in Singapore so I can go to Zam Zam.

 

[prozac]

I try to book overnight transit in Singapore so I can go to Zam Zam.

I've spent alot of time in SIN and surprised I had not heard of this restaurant. What's your go-to dish? Where do you camp?

 

[Mr H]

I've spent alot of time in SIN and surprised I had not heard of this restaurant. What's your go-to dish? Where do you camp?

Basically they sell murtabak and biriyani - both excellent. Last week I had sardine murtabak and tarik tea. I stay anywhere cheap in the area - last week it was Hotel 81 Heritage.

 

[rurounimaikeru]

I prefer 2-3 hrs to allow time for relaxed pace shower in lounge and stretch legs etc. Particularly for Europe trips.

Anything less than 90 mins and while fine can feel rushed depending on which terminal you're arrivin/departing, how well you know changi, and how busy lounge is.

 

[burmans]

Agree, it’s the opportunity for a shower I really value, the lounge itself seems a bit blah these days, so 3 hours seems about right.

Though a recent flight reshuffle to Nepal (just after the riots) necessitated an overnight and then morning free in Singapore which I really enjoyed too.

 

[prozac]

Agree, it’s the opportunity for a shower I really value, the lounge itself seems a bit blah these days, so 3 hours seems about right.

Though a recent flight reshuffle to Nepal (just after the riots) necessitated an overnight and then morning free in Singapore which I really enjoyed too.

I do enjoy the opportunity to shower refresh.

 

[rurounimaikeru]

My first enquiry and seeking some guidance with regards to a full points booking.
I am only investigating flights at the moment, my actual booking time will still be a few months away (allowing for the 355 days prior release).

I've picked some test dates, entered Sydney to Singapore, ticked 'redeem flights' and I am searching for 3 people. I get options returned indicating it will be from 72,000 points for a saver fair pp each way.

A) if it does not say waitlist, does this mean the seats are available?
B) Clicking through confirms the total points + taxes and then, if I were to proceed, it asks for passenger details.

The ease at getting to this point, has me skeptical given all the stories I have read and difficulty securing seats, so I just want to be prepared for disapointment further along the booking - I am not able to proceed at this point as I have not transferred all of the required points to my krisflyer account yet and it prompts me to proceed with a points+pay scenario.

Appreciate any advice from the experts. thank you

You may have figured this out already but the other thing I recently forgot was that the 355 day rule applies to the second sector in any 2 sector flight. So if the flt ex SIN is next day then the award won't release until next day not on the basis of first flight.

 

[Pavle]

You may have figured this out already but the other thing I recently forgot was that the 355 day rule applies to the second sector in any 2 sector flight. So if the flt ex SIN is next day then the award won't release until next day not on the basis of first flight.

Thanks.

On this point, if booking a saver, it appears you’re not eligible for a free Singapore stopover. Is it possible to book and cover the stopover costs? Is that via multi city booking or is there a better way?

 

[Beer_budget]

Thanks.

On this point, if booking a saver, it appears you’re not eligible for a free Singapore stopover. Is it possible to book and cover the stopover costs? Is that via multi city booking or is there a better way?

If you book as a saver return via multi city, you can get a stopover in one direction. So search eg SYD-SIN-AMS-SYD to book an outbound stopover.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks.

On this point, if booking a saver, it appears you’re not eligible for a free Singapore stopover. Is it possible to book and cover the stopover costs? Is that via multi city booking or is there a better way?

you can book that… it’s just two separate flights priced individually rather than any through fare.

 

[luckypierre]

Basically they sell murtabak and biriyani - both excellent. Last week I had sardine murtabak and tarik tea. I stay anywhere cheap in the area - last week it was Hotel 81 Heritage.

Thanks for the tip will try this place in two weeks. About 15 min walk from Citadines Rochor, easy.

 

[Mr H]

Thanks for the tip will try this place in two weeks. About 15 min walk from Citadines Rochor, easy.

Just so long as you’re not expecting anything high end…

 

[rurounimaikeru]

I've just noticed that advantage awards for SQ flights Aus to middle east/turkey zone are more expensive than Aus to Europe. But for saver it's other way around?

Does this pricing seem strange? Or what's the rationale?

 

[jbman]

I've just noticed that advantage awards for SQ flights Aus to middle east/turkey zone are more expensive than Aus to Europe. But for saver it's other way around?

Does this pricing seem strange? Or what's the rationale?

Yes I have seen the IST prices higher in the past. Not all days, but some. I am sure there was an explanation about it a long time ago.

 

[stm1sydney]

Thanks for the tip will try this place in two weeks. About 15 min walk from Citadines Rochor, easy.

Lots of great eating spots within walking distance of your hotel, in addition to Zam Zam and its neighbour/competitor Victory (interesting story there). Tekka hawker centre has some excellent biryani stalls, Hillman restaurant has its famous paper bag chicken, best chapati at the corner of Serangoon and Norris Rds, Berseh hawker centre is a great non-touristy place, and of course the fish head curry places along Race Course Rd.

 

[luckypierre]

Lots of great eating spots within walking distance of your hotel, in addition to Zam Zam and its neighbour/competitor Victory (interesting story there). Tekka hawker centre has some excellent biryani stalls, Hillman restaurant has its famous paper bag chicken, best chapati at the corner of Serangoon and Norris Rds, Berseh hawker centre is a great non-touristy place, and of course the fish head curry places along Race Course Rd.

Appreciate the suggestions, have stayed in Little India on a few occasions, and we like the Citadines Rochor. There are always new places to explore and new experiences to be had.

 

[BCons]

Two lovely flights with SQ on Friday/Sat - suites from SYD and then F to FRA.

The new EES procedure was easy - red-jacketed staff and multiple booths along the concourse to immigration made registering a simple process - scan passport, take a picture and scan 4 fingers on yr right hand. All done in a minute or so.

Arrived at Immigration, had my passport checked and then stamped. Still stamping passports I asked. Yes bye bye she replied- and that was it. No questions on Itin, length of stay etc. but that was the end of the good stuff.

We waited 2 hrs for bags - ‘we’ being the whole plane, excluding those prescient to go HLO and the crew whose bags arrived via a side door while 200-odd pax stood around in a stuffy, low ceilinged hall with only a tv monitor to say ‘SQ 26 baggage will be delayed’. Well, the longer we waited the more accurate that message became..

A number of pax approached the ground staff - contract, not SQ - who would not give an explanation only an apology. Finally a few of us fronting the luggage desk managed to get the impression there was a security operation happening, that it was ‘procedure’ for staff not to give out info during such events, but no answer to the question ‘why don’t you make an announcement even to just apologise’. Pretty poor handling made worse by the eventual arrival of priority bags on the last trolley. .

At least the delay made it easier for me to ask and receive early check in at the hotel..

 

[moa999]

New SIN T2 SilverKris partial opening

SIA’s T2 SilverKris Business Class lounge ‘glow-up’ starts to open

Singapore Airlines has quietly begun the soft opening of its renovated Terminal 2 SilverKris Business Class lounge, with a sneak preview already accessible to eligible passengers.

mainlymiles.com

 

[eric2011]

New SIN T2 SilverKris partial opening

SIA’s T2 SilverKris Business Class lounge ‘glow-up’ starts to open

Singapore Airlines has quietly begun the soft opening of its renovated Terminal 2 SilverKris Business Class lounge, with a sneak preview already accessible to eligible passengers.

mainlymiles.com

Sitting in this lounge atm, 6.30am, nice clean, roomy space but IMO the food is a little wanting. Not too much for western tastes as I'm not into Asian. The cook to order section is noodles etc only.