SQ25/26

[MathNerd]

Planning a trip to the US of A mid next year, and planning to get there (from MEL), on SQ, all in Suites ( ).
I've been running dummy award searches over the past month, just to gauge things like availability and timetables etc.
To get the entire journey in Suites, I'll have to take the red-eye SQ218 MEL-SIN (which I experienced at the end of January), and then "slum" it out for 18 hours in SIN (of course leaving the airport, exploring the city and having meals at TPR), then trek it out to JFK via FRA. Here's a randomly chosen date's trip:

In fact, it would be preferable to start the journey at AKL, purely to elongate the flying time and hence maximise the experience in Suites.

Has anyone travelled to the US using this routing (MEL-SIN-FRA-JFK)? From my reading everywhere, SQ25/26 is notorious for horrible availability (presumably due to it being the only route into/out of the US in Suites), so I just want to be extra prepared for the tough battle ahead.

Any tips, tricks and recent data points will be helpful, and very much appreciated.

 

[TomVexille]

We did 18 months ago, but commenced in SYD as MEL didn't have an A380 at the time.

 

[MathNerd]

We did 18 months ago, but commenced in SYD as MEL didn't have an A380 at the time.

That's awesome, thanks Tom. I thought it was a part of your "Suites Adventure", but just had a look again at that TR and didn't see this trip there. So this was another trip.
How did you find the flights? I know that ex-SYD the layover in SIN is much shorter than the 18 hour layover that an ex-MEL departure locks in.
How did you go about booking the flights in terms of availability etc? Was there any waitlisting involved?
Thanks in advance

 

[TomVexille]

Yeah, that was a different trip. We paid for the stopover and had 30ish hours in SIN. Stayed in a hotel overnight.

We both found that we were exhausted at the end of 26. I was wrecked for the next couple days. Even with a decent sleep on the first leg and a shorter one on the second. The FRA transit was okay. Enough time for a shower and a pretzel. We had a fair go at the Krug and RWT though so a fairly good flight in any case

I booked within minutes of the date being released, so availability wasn't too much of an issue.

 

[MathNerd]

Yeah, that was a different trip. We paid for the stopover and had 30ish hours in SIN. Stayed in a hotel overnight.

We both found that we were exhausted at the end of 26. I was wrecked for the next couple days. Even with a decent sleep on the first leg and a shorter one on the second. The FRA transit was okay. Enough time for a shower and a pretzel. We had a fair go at the Krug and RWT though so a fairly good flight in any case

I booked within minutes of the date being released, so availability wasn't too much of an issue.

That's amazing. Interesting though that you mention you were exhausted at the end of SQ26, even though you were in Suites. I guess it's a hard thing to do as you're crossing so many timezones and trying to get the bodyclock adjusted quickly never works out.

Did you depart on a weekend or a weekday? My dummy searches have come up dry when putting in a weekend departure, whereas a Tue/Wed/Thu departure seems to be available when awards are released. Also, which month did you do this trip in?

Thanks again for the insight, Tom.

 

[TomVexille]

Ex-SYD on a Sunday, SIN on Monday. This was August.

 

[lacuska1]

what are you complaining about? Use a reward system so put up with the waiting time!If you lucky enough to score a seat!

 

[NoName]

Not sure if you are interested in info for both 25 & 26 or just 26?

In any event, I flew SQ25 JFK-FRA-SIN in suites then a 36hr layover before SIN-SYD in new suites in August 2018.

As with the above I booked immediately it became available 12 months in advance and had no issue getting a saver award for a Tuesday night departure out of JFK and a Friday night out of SIN.

 

[dajop]

Have you thought about trying to grab a seat on SQ 228 77W service out of MEL instead, to connect to the flight with much shorter layover (although with only a small number of F seats, it might be more difficult to snare an award)? Whilst it is not suites, you should get to enjoy the full F service, unimpeded by a compelling desire to sleep which could be the case on SQ 208. And then have the suites to look forward to on SQ26.

 

[Mr H]

I can't imagine why you would think of eating in TPR when you have the world's best hawker markets on your doorstep (well, a short ride in the MRT) in Singapore.

 

[Mattg]

If you're going to do this, I think it would be worth paying the USD100 and stopping over in Singapore for a couple of nights. Otherwise, it is a very very long trip!

 

[get me outta here]

I’ve done this before ex SYD and am doing it again in May, from CBR in F. The first time I had a 23.5 hour transit and went into an airport hotel and off to the The Gardens by the Bay and a good walk around. I wanted to get out and about to get fresh air and tired for the next sector.
This May, arrive SIN ~ 0400 and depart 2355. I plan to have breakfast in the lounge / TPR once they open, then do the free heritage tour from SIN. Back to SIN to see if I can also do the other tour or airport movies.
I have booked 2pm-8pm at the Transit Hotel (AUD70 with a QF $30 off voucher), and return to the TPR for the next flight. The issue is I see it with this Singapore layover whether you do 1-3 nights, is the very early arrival of the flight and the very late departure. So even if it’s only a transit if you want to hotel you are obliged to book 2 nights.

The FRA conn was a little rushed, but enough time for a shower - go straight there to book it.
There was quite a lot of hanging around at the FRA gate as we were a bit delayed .

I was tired, but arriving in JFK at 1100 is perfect to get the hotel and then straight out for fresh air, and bed early.

 

[AIRwin]

Back to SIN to see if I can also do the other tour or airport movies.

Passengers are not able to join more than 1 tour as it involves entering and exiting Singapore more than once:
Free Singapore Tour

 

[daft009]

I did FRA to SIN in old suites and SIN to SYD in new suites in June '18.
Loved the old suites more, as it was a day flight.
the new suites (SQ221) while huge i just wanted to sleep so felt a little waste

 

[MathNerd]

what are you complaining about? Use a reward system so put up with the waiting time!If you lucky enough to score a seat!

Haha, not complaining at all, actually! I like the 18 hour layover as we can explore SIN and get out to see parts of the city without "forcing" a stopover. 18 hours should be plenty for a small walk around etc.

Not sure if you are interested in info for both 25 & 26 or just 26?

In any event, I flew SQ25 JFK-FRA-SIN in suites then a 36hr layover before SIN-SYD in new suites in August 2018.

As with the above I booked immediately it became available 12 months in advance and had no issue getting a saver award for a Tuesday night departure out of JFK and a Friday night out of SIN.

Thanks for the insight. I'm interested in both, would love to do MEL-SIN-FRA-JFK as well as JFK-FRA-SIN-MEL. I've been preparing myself for when the awards get released eventually, and trying dummy bookings to see how to work the system. Sometimes I succeed in seeing availability (when the departure date is in the middle of the week), and sometimes I just see "Not available" in the Saver column (when the departure date is Sat/Sun). Both dummy checks have been done checking at the time that awards are (apparently) released. Maybe it's because I'm putting the commencement of the trip in MEL rather than SIN? Thanks for your datapoint though, it's good to see that it is a possible redemption!

Have you thought about trying to grab a seat on SQ 228 77W service out of MEL instead, to connect to the flight with much shorter layover (although with only a small number of F seats, it might be more difficult to snare an award)? Whilst it is not suites, you should get to enjoy the full F service, unimpeded by a compelling desire to sleep which could be the case on SQ 208. And then have the suites to look forward to on SQ26.

I have thought about an F redemption on a 77W, but with only 4 F seats it'll be a lot harder to snag availability for my wife and I. Also, to go out on a bang and whizz around the world in an enclosed Suite with full privacy is something that I've dreamed about ever since commencing this FF journey that's been so much fun to do! I've even thought of jumping across the ditch to AKL and beginning the trip to JFK starting there! We can only dream

I can't imagine why you would think of eating in TPR when you have the world's best hawker markets on your doorstep (well, a short ride in the MRT) in Singapore.

Oh, for sure, with an 18 hour layover it'd be a good opportunity to (mostly) see what Singapore is famous for. My wife loves crabs and it'd be great to treat her to hawker crabs in the hawker markets.

If you're going to do this, I think it would be worth paying the USD100 and stopping over in Singapore for a couple of nights. Otherwise, it is a very very long trip!

That's a good point, however I think we have only 2 weeks in total for this trip so every hour will count! Having an 18 hour layover will allow the best of both worlds - see SIN and the US!

I’ve done this before ex SYD and am doing it again in May, from CBR in F. The first time I had a 23.5 hour transit and went into an airport hotel and off to the The Gardens by the Bay and a good walk around. I wanted to get out and about to get fresh air and tired for the next sector.
This May, arrive SIN ~ 0400 and depart 2355. I plan to have breakfast in the lounge / TPR once they open, then do the free heritage tour from SIN. Back to SIN to see if I can also do the other tour or airport movies.
I have booked 2pm-8pm at the Transit Hotel (AUD70 with a QF $30 off voucher), and return to the TPR for the next flight. The issue is I see it with this Singapore layover whether you do 1-3 nights, is the very early arrival of the flight and the very late departure. So even if it’s only a transit if you want to hotel you are obliged to book 2 nights.

The FRA conn was a little rushed, but enough time for a shower - go straight there to book it.
There was quite a lot of hanging around at the FRA gate as we were a bit delayed .

I was tired, but arriving in JFK at 1100 is perfect to get the hotel and then straight out for fresh air, and bed early.

Thanks for the datapoint, doing it twice is certainly luxurious travel to the max. Well done!

 

[get me outta here]

I'm in lowly J on the return on CX JFK via HKG ...

... doing it twice is certainly luxurious travel to the max. Well done!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just beware that with a midnight departure there will be reduced service for the ultra short AU-SIN sector, including a supper service (no caviar). The aim is to get the cabin locked down as quickly as possible and pax off to sleep. If you actually want 'the experience' a lunch or dinner flight is going to give you that.

 

[get me outta here]

My first meal of the trip will probably be brekky in the TPR uppn arrival. Leaving from CBR will be a pleasant change not having to go to SYD the day before to get to SIN.

 

[MathNerd]

Just beware that with a midnight departure there will be reduced service for the ultra short AU-SIN sector, including a supper service (no caviar). The aim is to get the cabin locked down as quickly as possible and pax off to sleep. If you actually want 'the experience' a lunch or dinner flight is going to give you that.

My wife and I have once travelled in Suites on SQ218, the "sleeper" service still was awesome, it was our first premium cabin experience so I guess we didn't really notice that it was "reduced" service. Regarding caviar, I'm not a seafood fan, and whilst my wife loves her seafood, she hasn't ventured into the world of caviar, and I'd feel horrible if she tried it and doesn't like it. In any case, it would be awesome making such a big trip, all in Suites. The long layover in SIN is awesome as it gives us a chance to experience (at least for a little bit) the awesomeness that is Singapore, without paying for a layover and/or worrying about the availability troubles that brings (if any).

My first meal of the trip will probably be brekky in the TPR upon arrival. Leaving from CBR will be a pleasant change not having to go to SYD the day before to get to SIN.

For brekky, do try the Vada (Wadai is what it was listed on the menu IIRC), it's pretty good. Hailing from BLR myself, Vada is a staple part of the breakfast diet so it's awesome to have a shot at that in the luxury of TPR! However, having the authentic version in BLR itself is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

... and whilst my wife loves her seafood, she hasn't ventured into the world of caviar, and I'd feel horrible if she tried it and doesn't like it.

wanting a stopover I can understand... missing out on a much better 'experience' on a day flight on the off-chance your wife might not caviar is a little harder There's a big difference between a red-eye sleeper supper and a full meal (the latter being much more elaborate.)