The Master SQ Guide (Krisflyer, Waitlists & Waitlists Clearing)

[aspro2]

I have also had success with SQ over the past years but their availability has tightened now and without PPS you won’t see J saver availability out of Melbourne - although there are waitlist options.

I'm not sure if you're describing limited availability as the result of some sort of SQ married-segment limitations to Europe, but I've got two J-savers from MEL for this year, booked in the last four months. Connecting in SIN for destinations in Asia. I also saw a number of J-savers (limited days) to/from Melbourne for Nov/Dec 2026 on release and a few hung around for some days more before vanishing. (I have no status.)

 

[dajop]

One thing is for sure SQ ain’t what it used be. As a Solitaire PPS it used to be a given that economy saver wait lists would clear. Now it’s almost never. Out of the last 20 economy waitlists we’ve had none .. zero zilch nothing … have cleared. Maybe they don’t want to give away cheap awards to those who theoretically have the biggest balance..

 

[Cruiser Elite]

One thing is for sure SQ ain’t what it used be.

That might just be the greatest understatement of all time

 

[dajop]

TBH, the big boost in Australian immigration from India with very little increase in capacity on direct air services between the two countries, has given SQ a huge boost, at least to MEL. Massive flows of VFR traffic and SQ seem to be picking up a lot of that judging by the demographics on board their SIN-MEL services. It is what it is. But it's certainly pushing down availability and pushing prices up.

 

[mel-world]

This might be a little OT but more my overview about the current position of SQ - particularly out of Australia but route wide more generally. SQ really cannot add much more capacity into Australia. I love having options with 5 daily flight out of MEL (against QF 2 and JQ 1). Even TR has as many flights as QF. But some of the departure or arrival timings are not ideal unless you are a business flyer.

I've been a TPPS for more years than I care to remember so have been loyal and happy with their product over the time. However, even my loyalty is being sorely tested over the last year or so. I'll lose my TPPS in a couple of years and, of course, SQ has no LPPS option anymore. I'll definitely be looking at cheaper options when the PPS benefits disappear.

I put it down to the point that SQ is at maximum loads in all cabins at the moment so they do not really have to offer much reward availability out of Australia or anywhere else for that matter. Their spontaneous reward booking are scant with not much availability anywhere most months.

Their cabins are starting to look tired and and they are slow to do anything about the issues with the J seats that we have complained about here for many years. This has always been countered by the quality of their soft product with the reliability of the cabin crew. But the crew are working so hard that they seem exhausted. The J cabin is always full and is so large that the meal service takes a long time. I never normally fly overnight into Australia but did it recently on a 380 flight into SYD. The lights came on 2.5 hours before landing and the only service - that was not worth waking up for - took forever. Overall catering is much reduced since COVID. I can remember when I could rest until 45 mins before landing and still get a coffee, fruit and bakery items before landing on an overnight.

Talking to the crew on recent flights show just how hard they work with turnaround time being the minimum. They have nearly 10000 cabin crew but have to work them hard. (I am sure the flight crewing is well within the regulations.)

Even their reliability is being stretched if you look at some delays into and out of Australia that are not weather related. A quick look at FR24 show just how fast they have to turn around their fleet in SIN between flights - I notice this with the 350 aircraft where often there is less than 2 hours between tow long haul flights.

I'll be happy to enjoy the new MEL lounge later this year but, as others have mentioned, the premium lounges in SIN - despite being recently expanded - are still embarrassingly crowded much of the day, and especially at night. The experience more often or not does not reflect the premium you pay to fly SQ compared to their competitors. Singapore is now so wealthy with a population who fly a lot to get away from the island that SQ does not have to do anything really to fill their J, F and R cabins.

I still like the personal PPS welcome you get every flight, the early choice of meals and the ability to choose the best bulkhead seats as soon as you book, access to the PPS hotline and the occasional extra recognition on board but it would be nice to get an upgrade even once every few years - I cannot remember the last time I had one.

Rant over.

 

[markis10]

They have nearly 10000 cabin crew but have to work them hard. (I am sure the flight crewing is well within the regulations.)

Current crew numbers cabin crew wise are 7500

 

[mel-world]

Current crew numbers cabin crew wise are 7500

You might know more than two cabin managers I spoke to a fortnight ago who both told me 9600.