Tips flying JFK-FRA-SIN-MEL?

[Ghostdunks]

Thanks to the kindness and tips of contributors to this forum on how to secure award flights on SQ(and thanks to the gods of the SQ waitlists!), I've managed to secure two Suites/First seats for my wife and I, and a business class seat for my mum, departing JFK to MEL, transiting in Frankfurt and Singapore, hoorah!


Just after some tips from those in the know as I want to try and maximize the experience for my mum and wife, as we're all not accustomed to travelling in such luxury. Other than only getting Suites on the A380 to SIN, then due to flying different plane to MEL, having to switch to First, I would think everything else sorted itself to perfection


From the SQ website, at JFK, looks like my wife and I will be able to use the Virgin Clubhouse, while my mum in J should be able to use the Wingtips lounge. Anyone know if I may be able to guest my mum into the Virgin Clubhouse, or whether there's that much of a difference between the lounges?


Same with Frankfurt, looks like first class passengers will be able to access the LH Senator lounge while I may have to send my mum to the LH Business lounge.


When we hit Singapore, looks like I need to make sure we get our Changi dollars, and try and experience the TPR(again, I'm assuming I won't be able to guest my mum into TPR along with us).


Anything else I need to try and make sure we experience(other than the Krug/Dom as recommended by cove and cruiser elite!!)?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ghostdunks seems you pretty much have it sorted - holding Gold R BPs you can guest your mum into any F lounge you can access. When you hit SIN - you and wife along with your mum quietly take one of the lounge Angels at entry to SKL aside and explain situation - fully explain that you understand that you and wifey have TPR access and technically you can only guest mum into F lounge - but plead your case - you never know mum might just get into TPR with you.

Angel at entry may well say go check with angel at entry to TPR - if mum not wearing 'Bintang' t-shirt and thongs you never know - I would certainly be trying.

On board 380 you will be lower deck front in R - mum will be upper deck in J - you or wifey can easily shoot up front stairs to check her - she will be treated like a queen by those gorgeous SQ Angels. I have not done the JFK-FRA sector but it will basically be same - just enjoy it! Mum enjoy a champers or 2? The Taittinger Prelude or Charles Heidsieck they are currently serving are both VERY VERY good drops. Enjoy - pls report back.

Again if its your first time in R don't forget to ask for your Gold TPR invitations at check-in JFK - they should have them for you - if not ask them to arrange one for you in SIN - angel at TPR will be more than happy to get you one if you tel them you want to keep as souvenir.

Sometimes in R/F the meal service can be a bit rushed - it is no problem to tell crew you really want to enjoy each course so please 10 mins bw serving each course - this will not be a prob if asked nicely.

God so much to enjoy - you will have a ball.

 

[vantage03]

Worst case scenario you can purchase a day pass to Virgin Atlantic Club House for $100USD.

It is a *very* good lounge and that $100 will buy you the equivalent or more of what that would buy you in a decent restaurant in NYC.

I paid it when flying VX JFK-LAX as even in F as VA elite they didn't offer any lounge access. Worth every penny.

 

[Ghostdunks]

Thanks for the tips! Flight arrived in Melbourne last night, and you were right, it was a ball! A real experience, I'm not sure I can go back to Y now...


Some notes on my experience:


As CE pointed out, as I was flying in Suites/First class, I could guest my mum into any F lounge that I could access. This was the case at JFK(Virgin Clubhouse), Frankfurt(Lufthansa Senator lounge), and Singapore(SilverKris First class lounge). The only one I couldn't bring her in as a guest was at "The Private Room" in Singapore, which was fine, I just left her in the pleb-like F lounge


Virgin Clubhouse at JFK:
1) No complimentary mini-spa treatments at Virgin Clubhouse at JFK, they said it was only for passengers flying with Virgin, so unfortunately no mini-facials/massages for my wife and mum.
2) Nice showers at JFK Virgin Clubhouse. Was good to have a shower before boarding a long flight after spending the day wandering around NYC.
3) I liked the little "cubbyhole" alcoves in the JFK Virgin clubhouse. Looked comfortable enough for someone to go in and snuggle up for a quick nap before a flight if needed
4) Seemed like a very avant-garde design, very modern.


Suites on A380:
1) Service was great, I felt the staff tried to go the extra mile with the service on most occasions.
2) The suites seats themselves were great, lots of room, I can really see myself getting addicted to this class of travel
3) Liked the amenity kits they give out in Suites/First, with their bottle of perfume/cologne from Ferragamo. I was also surprised to learn that business class passengers with SQ don't receive an amenity kit or pajamas. I only found this out when we collected my mum while in transit in Frankfurt, and asked what was in her amenity kit and she told me she didn't receive any, just an eyemask and socks. Confirmed this with the cabin manager in Suites when we reboarded the flight. I asked if I was going to receive another amenity kit for that leg(FRA-SIN), and if so, could I swap out the men's amenity kit with a women's version and have that given to my mum in business instead. He told me that I was only supposed to get one amenity kit for that part of the flight(JFK-FRA-SIN), but he would arrange for my mum to get a women's amenity kit, along with pajamas, slippers as well AND he would bring her down to Suites class as we approached Singapore so that we could all deplane together, which was very nice of him.
4) Tried both Krug and Dom, think I prefer the Krug
5) First world problem coming up...too much food!! Along with eating at the lounge beforehand, each mealtime on the actual plane was a multi-course meal. You get an appetiser(I got some lobster on one leg, and some very nice caviar on the second leg), then a choice of soups, then a salad, then comes the main(choice of mains or book the cook), then the dessert. I was stuffed very quickly....


LH Senator lounge at FRA:
1) Seemed to have a large range of alcohol for self-serve, along with a bar where they'll also be happy to serve you as well
2) Design of the lounge seemed a lot more functional than the Virgin lounge at JFK.


The Private Room at SIN:
1) Seemed very quiet when we were there. I went through the SilverKris Business and First Class lounges as well to see what food was available in there, and the staff in the TPR were quite happy to mix and match different food available from all 3 lounges to serve to me in the TPR.
2) Not TPR related, but Singapore-related. Was looking forward to getting some Changi dollars for all of us, but when we went to get the vouchers, was told that as we originated in JFK, we weren't eligible for any as the USA had been dropped from the program as of October last year. Oh well, nothing really lost, but was looking forward to some free money!


One last note, the priority baggage actually worked remarkably well. After many failures with QF, I wasn't expecting much, but the first 4 bags on the carousel were my wifes and mine. Then came the rest of the first/suites bags, then my mum's was the first business bag out right after them.


Overall a great experience, and I can't wait to travel in style again soon!