SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[jordyp123]

SQ248 MEL-SIN

Great flight in J. Service has improved in J as I have found it lacklustre the last few flights. BTC was excellent the Beef Tenderloin and it’s nice to have satay ex MEL. The crew made the difficult flight with my almost 2 twin boys a breeze.

 

[prozac]

550,000 points expiring in October and can top-up as needed. Extended illness has delayed booking and now looking at 2xJ Saver SYD-AMS next May 2027 for a 4-5 week trip. Then some of sth NL explore then drive down along the Rhine towns and villages into northern France the idea being to spend as long as we need before moving on.

Been more than a decade since I've booked on SQ or transited SIN so looking for some preference advice.
I'd prefer afternoon departures SYD but what are members preferences regards onward booking SIN. Do you advise a break in the airport hotel before onward travel? Should this be accommodated using an earlier SYD departure?

Return. I would like to plan a couple of days in SIN for R&R. What is a good time frame and then onward dep. flight?

 

[Flyfrequently]

550,000 points expiring in October and can top-up as needed. Extended illness has delayed booking and now looking at 2xJ Saver SYD-AMS next May 2027 for a 4-5 week trip. There some of sth NL explore then drive down along the Rhine towns and villages into northern France the idea being to spend as long as we need before moving on.

Been more than a decade since I've booked on SQ or transited SIN so looking for some preference advice.
I'd prefer afternoon departures SYD but what are members preferences regards onward booking SIN. Do you advise a break in the airport hotel before onward travel? Should this be accommodated using an earlier SYD departure?

Return. I would like to plan a couple of days in SIN for R&R. What is a good time frame and then onward dep. flight?

Great that you are planning travel @prozac
I am probably not the best person to give advice on stopovers as we do that just for a 2 week holiday!
Others will have some better input.

 

[prozac]

Great that you are planning travel @prozac
I am probably not the best person to give advice on stopovers as we do that just for a 2 week holiday!
Others will have some better input.

All advice is valuable @Flyfrequently.
Also seeking advice regards best SQ redemption booking techniques.

 

[I love to travel]

My personal preference is day flights to Europe where possible as you arrive in Europe and go to sleep. SO SQ 334 would be ideal and allows an overnight sleep. Or go on SQ 212 and make more of a day of in Singapore away from the airport

 

[MEL_Traveller]

550,000 points expiring in October and can top-up as needed. Extended illness has delayed booking and now looking at 2xJ Saver SYD-AMS next May 2027 for a 4-5 week trip. Then some of sth NL explore then drive down along the Rhine towns and villages into northern France the idea being to spend as long as we need before moving on.

Been more than a decade since I've booked on SQ or transited SIN so looking for some preference advice.
I'd prefer afternoon departures SYD but what are members preferences regards onward booking SIN. Do you advise a break in the airport hotel before onward travel? Should this be accommodated using an earlier SYD departure?

Return. I would like to plan a couple of days in SIN for R&R. What is a good time frame and then onward dep. flight?

Agree with I love to travel. By the time you get to your hotel, spend an hour to wind down, have another hour to get ready, spend two or three hours in the lounge well you’re a third of the way to Europe just in the time that you’re faffing around!

And in business class, you just snooze when you feel tired.

if you think the flight is going to be tiring and you want to get some rest, then consider a hotel at Heathrow on arrival? Even for a five star, it’s likely to be cheaper than the transit hotel in Singapore!

 

[Scr77]

I agree. If you have the time, go out of our way for day travel. We usually make the SIN stopover on the way to Europe because the flight timings work better.

FRA & CDG are probably good Daytime options to get to Amsterdam.

 

[dajop]

I agree. If you have the time, go out of our way for day travel. We usually make the SIN stopover on the way to Europe because the flight timings work better.

FRA & CDG are probably good Daytime options to get to Amsterdam.

There is considerable disagreement in the AFF community about the merit of these day flights. Those who think they waste time, those who they are great. Basically YMMV. But if you are a light sleeper, or struggle sleeping on planes (even in flat beds) , like I do, they're terrific.

I have used these day flights at least 20 times over the last 15 years, but being based in SIN, that is easy. Often will WFH on the flight and not take these as a day leave, but I know most either don't need to worry about this or can't. I have also done a few times originating in MEL (arrive evening in SIN, go home for the night, repack and travel to Europe next morning), Honestly I never experience jetlag on these, you go to bed not long after landing. Have done overnights a few times too and I find that the first day is a real struggle.

Whilst FRA and CDG are logical points for getting to AMS - if you stay at/near the airport at SIN, the 9am to LHR is worthwhile considering as it is earlier, and can then get a flight to AMS that evening if you want, at a reasonable hour (and at arrives at LHR at 3pm-ish, a very quiet time in T2, so transit is easy). Impossible with the CDG timing and FRA would get you to AMS very late. - after 10pm.

 

[LinaLee]

I know it’s controversial but have always found the entry via LHR easier especially T2 past immigration and luggage. This time it took me about 1.5 hours door to door from plane in T2 to check in at Sofitel T5 using the free transfers on the Elizabeth line. Also there’s always lots of options from LHR to rest of Europe. Club Europe BA if booked in advance is normally a bargain.

Bucket list stopover in Singapore my fav is the Raffles hotel. Allow for 2 days at least to enjoy the slow pace of life.

 

[bjm76]

I am a fan of day flights as much as possible myself, but I mainly fly in Premium Economy, (or Business where I can use points for upgrade which is not often). So I will get the early morning SQ flight out of Australia, land Singapore mid afternoon so I have time to explore (or just enjoy the hotel lounge).
I always find the overnight flights from Asia back to Australia is just horrible and I am a zombie for the entire next day. I only do daytime flights home from Asia now, which means SQ everytime as QF dont offer daytime flights (except from Haneda).

 

[rurounimaikeru]

I did overnight J with family of 4 into MXP with 2 he stop in SIN. Showered in lounge.

Slept on plane and then Arrived 7am and then train to Venice.

We all got decent sleep on flight and so while a bit tired wasn't too bad.

My view is you want to get into destination time zone as quick as possible so if you arrive morn you need to be ok staying awake till evening. So if can't sleep on flights do as others above suggested and take arvo/evening arrival.

I'd recommend at least 2 hrs for relaxing transit in sin with lounge and shower.

Sin is also great stop over and super fast exit through customs etc.

 

[dajop]

I know it’s controversial but have always found the entry via LHR easier especially T2 past immigration and luggage.

Arrived on SQ. 308 (-3pm twice this year). Now there’s always a 5-10 min walk from the gate to the main terminal (depending on how fast you walk), but from there :
-one of these took me 3-4 mins to go through connections and be back airside in T2
- the other time I took the landside route to T4 on the Elizabeth Line and that took me 20 mins all up to get through immigration and be back airside in T4 (including stopping by at checkin to get a boarding pass and give them my bag tag numbers).

I know though different times of day can yield different results.!

 

[prozac]

... I'd recommend at least 2 hrs for relaxing transit in sin with lounge and shower.

This is what I am driving at. I think enough time in SIN lounge to refresh and shower is probably a must SYD-SIN then back on plane to arrive AMS early morning.

I know it’s controversial but have always found the entry via LHR easier especially T2 past immigration and luggage. This time it took me about 1.5 hours door to door from plane in T2 to check in at Sofitel T5 using the free transfers on the Elizabeth line. Also there’s always lots of options from LHR to rest of Europe. Club Europe BA if booked in advance is normally a bargain.

Bucket list stopover in Singapore my fav is the Raffles hotel. Allow for 2 days at least to enjoy the slow pace of life.

And this on return ... 2 days is sort of what I was thinking to relax before return to SYD. @LinaLee , Raffles might be a pipe-dream for us, pretty expensive?
LHR is an interesting suggestion and probably great when odd arrival times at EU destinations might be stressful. In my case SIN-AMS has good arrival time and I would usually book into a hotel in or just outside AMS.

 

[LinaLee]

And this on return ... 2 days is sort of what I was thinking to relax before return to SYD. @LinaLee , Raffles might be a pipe-dream for us, pretty expensive?

It does make a bit of a hole in the budget. My bad for even suggesting, sorry. There’s also other great places to stay in Singapore around the same area ( Bugis, Raffles Place) where Raffles is located for the easy access to MRT and decent food courts in shopping centres where there is ac as I don’t do heat….
Personally when not spending all my retirement fund I tend to gravitate to the Pullman Singapore Hill (due to ALL status) as it’s fairly new, great service and a roof top pool that looks towards Marina Bay. There is a path to enter back through to the Capital shopping centre that the concierge is more than happy to show as it’s not obvious and that leads to the underground shops that eventually gets you to the MRT etc.. Hotel can get busy on weekends with family and am seeing now tour groups starting to stay. Was quiet when first opened. Taxi fare between Changi and hotel is quite reasonable around $30 or less depending on time of day. Avoid those hotels near Orchard road as getting there by taxi usually involves traffic jams at peak hour and the extra charge for entering that area. MRT in Singapore gets you everywhere easily. Happy planning and reach out if any specific questions.

 

[prozac]

It does make a bit of a hole in the budget. My bad for even suggesting, sorry. There’s also other great places to stay in Singapore around the same area ( Bugis, Raffles Place) where Raffles is located for the easy access to MRT and decent food courts in shopping centres where there is ac as I don’t do heat….
Personally when not spending all my retirement fund I tend to gravitate to the Pullman Singapore Hill (due to ALL status) as it’s fairly new, great service and a roof top pool that looks towards Marina Bay. There is a path to enter back through to the Capital shopping centre that the concierge is more than happy to show as it’s not obvious. It can get busy on weekends with family and am seeing now tour groups starting to stay. Was quiet when first opened. Taxi fare between Changi and hotel is quite reasonable around $30 or less depending on time of day. Avoid those hotels near Orchard road as getting there by taxi usually involves traffic jams at peak hour and the extra charge for entering that area. MRT in Singapore gets you everywhere easily. Happy planning and reach out if any specific questions.

Thanks for the locale suggestion. Pullman is not badly priced...but that local tax! I've never paid for my own accom in SIN before.

 

[Mur@no70]

Thanks for the locale suggestion. Pullman is not badly priced...but that local tax! I've never paid for my own accom in SIN before.

we used to stay at the Andaz in bugis which was nice but a few years ago found One Farrer. It's right in the middle of Little India and sits above a MRT station. The Club lounge is also excellent if that's something you like

 

[LinaLee]

Thanks for the locale suggestion. Pullman is not badly priced...but that local tax! I've never paid for my own accom in SIN before.

Oh yes, prices look reasonable until you factor in the tax….sometimes They have sales closer to the date. I usually book a flexi cancellation more than 24 hours rate very far out that’s reasonable, then check occasionally to see if I can get a better rate. And then sometimes book a non cancellation rate a few days out if unlikely to need to cancel.

 

[prozac]

Oh yes, prices look reasonable until you factor in the tax….sometimes They have sales closer to the date. I usually book a flexi cancellation more than 24 hours rate very far out that’s reasonable, then check occasionally to see if I can get a better rate. And then sometimes book a non cancellation rate a few days out if unlikely to need to cancel.

Are you referring to AllAccor Red Hot Room deals?