SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[lovestotravel]

YMMV… I far prefer the regional product because it’s forward facing with big footwells. Gimme that any day over the a350/380/777.

You will need to compare the refitted A350's/777's to the medium haul rubbish soon, well by 2031...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You will need to compare the refitted A350's/777's to the medium haul rubbish soon, well by 2031...

Sure, but not currently!

And doors are here nor there for me, so the new fit-outs will just mean a basic decent bed across the fleet

 

[lovestotravel]

Sure, but not currently!

And doors are here nor there for me, so the new fit-outs will just mean a basic decent bed across the fleet

Agree - Door are a novelty unless floor to ceiling

 

[lovestotravel]

Another piece which is interesting

For the Boeing 777-9 SIA says Premium Economy and Economy on “selected” 777-9s will feature 4K OLED displays.

I wonder why

 

[BCons]

Ahh, the clip lock vista from Syd Flounge.. On 222 today and back nxt week, after SQ's refresh has begun - will be interested to see and report the differences btween flts..

Boarding today from gate 9 rather than 58 or elsewhere at this end of Syd airport.

 

[moffat39]

Couple of observations from flights from Brisbane to Beijing on SQ246 and SQ802 with the return from Shanghai to Brisbane on SQ833 and SQ255.

The trip to China was on a My Cruises tour with flights included with flights in economy. All other Singapore Airlines flights have been in J or First Class using points. Wanted to experience economy as will be retiring soon and as the points are running out wanted to experience economy to see if we could do it!

I am Virgin Gold and entered my Virgin FF number into the booking. Check in at Brisbane was the Business Class check in for wife and I. Boarding group for me was 4 and my recollection is the wife was 5. Lounge was busy for the 11.55pm flight. The lounge was able to include my Krisflyer membership number in the booking but could not connect to the wifi on any of the flights.

On the stopover in Singapore did not know what to expect in the Gold Lounge in T3 but was pleasantly surprised when you compare it to the Virgin Lounges. Lounge was busy from around 6.00am to when we left 2 hours later.

At end of the tour we were dropped off early at Shanghai airport around 45 minutes before check in opened. One couple had upgraded to Business and they went to some SQ satff and were given boaring passes and told to check in their luggage at another counter. I asked if i could check in early as well being Virgin Gold and was allowed to. This time my boarding pass showed group 5 for boarding and my wife was a later group. They checked us both in early.

Arrived at the Gold lounge in T3 in Singapore around 10.30pm and not many in the lounge. Staff were not topping up the food but again found the lounge compfortable.

When boarding SQ255 I boarded with Group 4 (group 5 being on my ticket) and showed my Gold Velocity cars and was allowed to boad with Group 4.

Lesson learnt from flying economy is I can not do it again on SQ. Once points run out will have to rethink stratergy on how we can fly business on international flights without paying full fare!

 

[dajop]

Lesson learnt from flying economy is I can not do it again on SQ. Once points run out will have to rethink stratergy on how we can fly business on international flights without paying full fare!

Economy is always going to pale in comparison to business, but you especially you didn’t give yourself a chance by having two redeyes! My motto is avoid at all costs. I find, the three overnights on SQ and two on QF from SIN to MEL painful in economy, but don’t mind the two day flights on SQ or TK in economy. Even travel in to Europe I can cope with the 9am or midday departure from SIN but avoid the midnight departures if in economy.

Many people adopt the strategy of Y to SE Asia during the day have a night or two there and proceed in business class from there - substantial savings over business from Australia - but this might not make sense if just travelling to somewhere else in Asia .

 

[moffat39]

but you especially you didn’t give yourself a chance by having two redeyes! My motto is avoid at all costs.

Dajop - agree 100% after my experience. This was our first tour so inexperienced in what to ask for. Thought we had to take what we were booked on but after speaking to other people on the tour they asked for day time flights from and to Australia and were got them. However they either had early starts or late arrivals in China.

Some had upgraded to exit row seats. We wanted to experience the standard economy experience to see if we could do it again and the answer is no!

Yes a daytime flight to Asia with exit row seats maybe bearable with more reasonable J fares to Europe but Brisbane does not have the options that Sydney/Melbourne have. Would even condsider a Scoot Plus to Singapore booking but that would mean flying out of Sydney or Melbourne. If fully retired that would not be a problem.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dajop - agree 100% after my experience. This was our first tour so inexperienced in what to ask for. Thought we had to take what we were booked on but after speaking to other people on the tour they asked for day time flights from and to Australia and were got them. However they either had early starts or late arrivals in China.

Some had upgraded to exit row seats. We wanted to experience the standard economy experience to see if we could do it again and the answer is no!

Yes a daytime flight to Asia with exit row seats maybe bearable with more reasonable J fares to Europe but Brisbane does not have the options that Sydney/Melbourne have. Would even condsider a Scoot Plus to Singapore booking but that would mean flying out of Sydney or Melbourne. If fully retired that would not be a problem.

The other option is aeroplan points… a business class one way on Singapore airlines from Brisbane to Asia is around $1000 one way, plus government and airport tax (no fuel surcharges). Booking when the calendar opens usually has pretty good availability (2+ seats in business on every flight).

 

[markis10]

Yes a daytime flight to Asia with exit row seats maybe bearable with more reasonable J fares to Europe but Brisbane does not have the options that Sydney/Melbourne have.

I flew to China yesterday in Y ex BNE on the 1800 departure and it was satisfactory. Food was great, flights punctual so no issues. Had to laugh at the nod to Durian’s odor on the safety video

 

[moffat39]

Thanks Mel_Traveller for that. I have lots of study to do on other other options. Can you use aeroplan in J from Bne to Europe?

I sold an investment property earlier this year and will have signifucant CGT to pay next year. My initial research is I could got around 800k AMEX Membership Rewards using pay.com.au which would convert to 266,999 Krisflyer points but at around $5000 in fees not sure if that is good value.

Have around 300k virgin (velocity) points and have thought buying virgin points when they have the 50% promotion.

Already have a j return booked using points on SQ for wife and i next year flying into Brussels and out of Istanbul so its 2028/2029 trip i will need to have the points for.

So much to learn!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks Mel_Traveller for that. I have lots of study to do on other other options. Can you use aeroplan in J from Bne to Europe?

I sold an investment property earlier this year and will have signifucant CGT to pay next year. My initial research is I could got around 800k AMEX Membership Rewards using pay.com.au which would convert to 266,999 Krisflyer points but at around $5000 in fees not sure if that is good value.

Have around 300k virgin (velocity) points and have thought buying virgin points when they have the 50% promotion.

Already have a j return booked using points on SQ for wife and i next year flying into Brussels and out of Istanbul so its 2028/2029 trip i will need to have the points for.

So much to learn!

Yes, you can fly all the way from Australia to Europe on Singapore airlines using aeroplan.

When Aeroplan has sales it works out to just under 2c per point. You need 130k per person each way… so around $5100-5200 return. Plus actual tax. A stopover is 5k points.

Aeroplan partners with all sort of interesting airlines too, including Oman Air and air Mauritius. You can mix those in any combination for the same price. Fly Singapore one way, and maybe stop in Mauritius on the return, etc

 

[moffat39]

Yes, you can fly all the way from Australia to Europe on Singapore airlines using aeroplan.

When Aeroplan has sales it works out to just under 2c per point. You need 130k per person each way… so around $5100-5200 return. Plus actual tax. A stopover is 5k points.

Aeroplan partners with all sort of interesting airlines too, including Oman Air and air Mauritius. You can mix those in any combination for the same price. Fly Singapore one way, and maybe stop in Mauritius on the return, etc

Mel_Traveller that information is fantastic. I have read reviews on Oman Air and they seem good except some of the flights from Oman to Europe on the 321 but at least it is 1:1 seating in J

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks Mel_Traveller for that. I have lots of study to do on other other options. Can you use aeroplan in J from Bne to Europe?

I sold an investment property earlier this year and will have signifucant CGT to pay next year. My initial research is I could got around 800k AMEX Membership Rewards using pay.com.au which would convert to 266,999 Krisflyer points but at around $5000 in fees not sure if that is good value.

Have around 300k virgin (velocity) points and have thought buying virgin points when they have the 50% promotion.

Already have a j return booked using points on SQ for wife and i next year flying into Brussels and out of Istanbul so its 2028/2029 trip i will need to have the points for.

So much to learn!

Just pay ato direct no fees…. You’ll get fewer points but it’s worth it

 

[stm1sydney]

Had to laugh at the nod to Durian’s odor on the safety video

That's so funny - the look of disapproval on the parents' faces when the sone declines the durian and the look of relief on the son's face when he puts on the oxygen mask. Who said Singaporeans can't do humour?

 

[Shpitzo]

Am thinking we should have a main thread for posting info re all matters SQ which are not that important and do not warrant their own thread.

For example - I am heading out early morrow on SQ218 dep 01:05 - anybody else on the flight? Can catch up in lounge or outside - might be able to sneak 1 extra pax into lounge who wouldn't normally have access?

Connecting tomorrow to PVG - SQ830 dep 10:00. Was originally booked on SQ828 with dep 07:30 but changed it. How is this - they give you brekky on 218 before landing - then into TPR for a shower and.................brekky..................then onto 828 where they serve you.............brekky. So decided best to spend an extra 2hrs or so in SIN and arrive into PVG coupla hrs later - will skip the brekky on 218 but will enjoy lunch on 830 with the later departure time.

Posted in Suites thread that I could not book mixed class J PEK-SIN then F SIN-MEL on 24th as F allocation ex PEK exhausted on 227 - so I booked J both sectors. Called Crystal to check if any chance at all can upgrade to F on SIN-MEL sector 227 and answer is YES maybe possibility - I need to call her back on morn 22nd and she will confirm yay or nay - gotta love SQ.

Just noted on SQ web site it appears that cut off date for Changi Dollars now extended again til Sept 30 - with 2 transits in next week I will now have $320 worth of vouchers - am going to cash these on an iPad Air when coming home on 24th - great way to use them I think.

One for the thread, KrisFlyer award seats often open up close to departure so it’s worth checking again about two weeks out. Saver awards on SQ flights can be waitlisted too. FWIW a free app like Tripit keeps the waitlisted segments and confirmations in one place so you don’t lose track. Book a refundable backup while you wait

 

[GarrettM]

Looking at flights for next year's planned trip tp Japan. Flying either into KIX or HND/NRT.
Do I dare go with the short connection at Changi? Just over an hour. I know there's all the safeguards of being on one PNR, and it's SQ/Changi, and people do it all the time. Plus there's bound t be quite a few people making the same journey on the same fights, so there's that comfort also.
But do I take that risk with a then 8yo who may or may not handle any such setback with patience and good humour.

This is largely a rhetorical question as I know only I can make a decision about what's best in our situation.
Trying to juggle getting flights at the right time of day, on as many different metals as possible, without gong over budget.

 

[Comoman]

Looking at flights for next year's planned trip tp Japan. Flying either into KIX or HND/NRT.
Do I dare go with the short connection at Changi? Just over an hour. I know there's all the safeguards of being on one PNR, and it's SQ/Changi, and people do it all the time. Plus there's bound t be quite a few people making the same journey on the same fights, so there's that comfort also.
But do I take that risk with a then 8yo who may or may not handle any such setback with patience and good humour.

This is largely a rhetorical question as I know only I can make a decision about what's best in our situation.
Trying to juggle getting flights at the right time of day, on as many different metals as possible, without gong over budget.

Data point - I did a Perth - Sin - Kul with an 50 min connection on one ticket and my bag didn't make it.

Was rather annoying....