SQ217 / 218 go to A380

[ajca]

Good news for Melbournites, bad news for Qantas:

"Flight SQ218 from Melbourne to Singapore, currently operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, will switch to the superjumbo from 17 August 2012. The corresponding Singapore – Melbourne flight, SQ217, will also be operated with the A380 aircraft from 16 August 2012."
Singapore Airlines goes double daily A380s at Melbourne | Plane Talking

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Little diff IMHO - what would be good news would be if 237/238 were upgraded from 777-300 to 380 or 77W

 

[dajop]

Little diff IMHO - what would be good news would be if 237/238 were upgraded from 777-300 to 380 or 77W

Actually it should make a difference. Because it connects from all European destinations, as well as the red-eyes from India & North Asia, SQ 217 is often difficult to get awards or sale fares on (at least ex-SIN) in both Y & C. Extra capacity should help. But I wonder how they'll go in the other direction, whenever I've been on 218 it's never been that full. Maybe MEL will get some 30% off points deals at some point, at the moment it always misses out.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Actually it should make a difference. Because it connects from all European destinations, as well as the red-eyes from India & North Asia, SQ 217 is often difficult to get awards or sale fares on (at least ex-SIN) in both Y & C. Extra capacity should help.

You may well be correct on this point - I never seek J redems on 217 as I am coming from China or Phils and connect with 227 or 237 - 237 dep SIN 23:50 with reg J - substituting the 300 with 380 or 77W would make it so much better than 77W for 380 on any SQ flts ex MEL iMHO.

 

[penegal]

MEL has had tight capacity on SQ for a little while, so this is hardly a surprising development.


FWIW SQ218 already has the 'new' long haul J. I fly this sector regularly, including once later this week.

Ideally it would be nice if all 3 flights went to the new long haul products. Currently I tend to always take SQ227 and avoid SQ237. I am less worried about those seats on day flights as I don't even try to sleep.