Finally! Fares are truly coming down! (SQ early birds, incl business to FRA for $6679)

[MEL_Traveller]

Just got an email from SQ… early bird fares to Europe (London and Frankfurt), available until end September this year, and from 15 Jan to Sept 2024…. $6679 return business class to FRA, $7300 to London.

Finally some downward pressure, and this is sure to bring competition.

Economy is is the $1600-$1700 range. A tad high. Hopefully that will start to ease too.

 

[SYD]

The whY fares quoted in my email were much lower - $9xx.

Edit: oh, they were the Asia fares…

But they also had Early bird last year. Alas not too many followed their lead.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The whY fares quoted in my email were much lower - $9xx.

Edit: oh, they were the Asia fares…

But they also had Early bird last year. Alas not too many followed their lead.

Hopefully this year will be better given the vast increase in capacity?

$6500 is getting back to pre-covid levels for top tier airlines to europe.

 

[SCM]

In 2021 I bought tickets for 2022 for SQ, $5800 ret MUC
In 2022 I bought tickets for 2023 for SQ, $6000 ret FRA (this same sale last year).

From my perspective, prices are going up significantly - not getting better. Also, last year SQ had more European ports for the early bird sale.

Some of that maybe due to AUD falling, but even so, prices are not improving even on same exchange rate terms.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In 2021 I bought tickets for 2022 for SQ, $5800 ret MUC
In 2022 I bought tickets for 2023 for SQ, $6000 ret FRA (this same sale last year).

From my perspective, prices are going up significantly - not getting better. Also, last year SQ had more European ports for the early bird sale.

Some of that maybe due to AUD falling, but even so, prices are not improving even on same exchange rate terms.

Oh!

sorry then.

i was getting excited prematurely

 

[drron]

Hopefully this year will be better given the vast increase in capacity?

$6500 is getting back to pre-covid levels for top tier airlines to europe.

The spin I put on it is very different to your hopes I am afraid.
It shows to me that if we got capacity back to even 2019 levels then fares stand a chance of getting back to 2019 levels. Getting to those levels in a more timely fashion would have been helped by granting Qatar increased flights.

Most reports on present capacity say we are only back to ~ 70% of 2019 capacity.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The spin I put on it is very different to your hopes I am afraid.
It shows to me that if we got capacity back to even 2019 levels then fares stand a chance of getting back to 2019 levels. Getting to those levels in a more timely fashion would have been helped by granting Qatar increased flights.

Most reports on present capacity say we are only back to ~ 70% of 2019 capacity.

But that’s qantas. Isn’t SQ already back to four or five times daily ex MEL and SYD?

 

[alexczarn]

But that’s qantas. Isn’t SQ already back to four or five times daily ex MEL and SYD?

mhm yes but people who can't buy seats on QF services will naturally gravitate towards competitors...

 

[drron]

But that’s qantas. Isn’t SQ already back to four or five times daily ex MEL and SYD?

Although SQ is nearly back to pre covid levels it is the total capacity that is only at 70% of pre covid times. The Chinese airlines are certainly not back to their pre covid capacity. Another that I would like back is TG outside of SYD.
Probably not as noticeable at SYD and MEL but at the other major cities the capacity isn't returning quickly.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Although SQ is nearly back to pre covid levels it is the total capacity that is only at 70% of pre covid times. The Chinese airlines are certainly not back to their pre covid capacity. Another that I would like back is TG outside of SYD.
Probably not as noticeable at SYD and MEL but at the other major cities the capacity isn't returning quickly.

Fair point. Being from MEL that’s my focus. Agree other cities may not be as fortunate

 

[drron]

Yes even SQ out of BNE has 3 flights a day now which seems good but pre covid they had 4. I believe it will go back to 4 but just for the end of year holidays.

 

[SCM]

SQ is still waiting for more planes, although 350s are basically done, once they get another dozen dreamliners, they might put those extras on BNE, ADE, PER. I don't think SQ has any more large aircraft to send to SYD/MEL, unless they cut some other routes somewhere.

They should really order more a350s or 777X (which will only replace their current 777s on 1:1, not really grow the fleet).

There aren't many other airlines that can increase flights - for example CX another major player in the region is limited to 70 flights per week to AU by the current treaty between AU-HK. We really need to get rid of these stupid things and have open skies with everyone.

 

[OZDUCK]

SQ is still waiting for more planes, although 350s are basically done, once they get another dozen dreamliners, they might put those extras on BNE, ADE, PER. I don't think SQ has any more large aircraft to send to SYD/MEL, unless they cut some other routes somewhere.

They should really order more a350s or 777X (which will only replace their current 777s on 1:1, not really grow the fleet).

There aren't many other airlines that can increase flights - for example CX another major player in the region is limited to 70 flights per week to AU by the current treaty between AU-HK. We really need to get rid of these stupid things and have open skies with everyone.

SQ will shortly have 4 daily flights to Perth plus Scoot often with 2 daily flights so I can't see more SQ flights coming here.

 

[MARTINE]

I have booked three SQ J in last nine months ranging from 14K to best 9.5k
All flights are full
I am hoping they put on more planes as think this is preventing the pre-Covid J fares where it was
6-7k - of course those days may be gone forever but hope not. Redemption capacity is hopeless

 

[SCM]

Another point I want to make, last year the sale fares were on a wide range of flight times leaving Sydney, now it's only the late ones - meaning a very long layover at SIN and arriving at FRA late in the day at 6pm as opposed to 7am.

One of the benefits of flying into FRA is it's a sizable hub and flying in early in the morning means you can easily catch a flight elsewhere, but with such a late arrival time it makes it too risky to book the last flights out.

Really quite a disappointing sale, but we'll take what we can get I suppose.

I will wait a few weeks to see what happens - maybe they will expand it. My favourite one is leaving SYD 11am arriving FRA 7am. This iteniary is 2k AUD more expensive than last year during this sale time.

 

[OZDUCK]

I had a quick look and the prices to Frankfurt are roughly $2,000 more than when we booked last year.

 

[Ausbt]

I just scored SYD-IST SQ J redemption at Saver rates for late July next year, which is great because those Krisflyer points were just about to expire

Now I need to come back, one-way, and I'd prefer to do it cheap of course. I guess I could do Scoot from Athens late Aug early Sept. I'd say I'd be pretty flexible for anything else going on in the region. Of course the attraction of going to Monza for the F1 could be rather strong!

 

[docjames]

SQ fares (also purchasable via VA) are really good compared to everyone else at the moment.

Mid 2024 fares circa $2k return via SQ, few others appear sub $3k……let’s hope some downward price pressure. Even EK seems to be holding the price at $3000-3500 despite seemingly similar capacity to 2019……

(Edit: Y fares)

 

[Coathanger]

SQ fares (also purchasable via VA) are really good compared to everyone else at the moment.

Mid 2024 fares circa $2k return via SQ, few others appear sub $3k……

(Edit: Y fares)

Very keen pricing for summer in Europe and with open jaw/multi city options. I’ve booked into LHR and out from CDG (during the Olympics) for under A$2k. Day flights on three out of four sectors.

With exit row seats for and additional A$500 for the four sectors, it’s a well priced way to get to Europe on a quality airline.

 

[SCM]

SQ fares (also purchasable via VA) are really good compared to everyone else at the moment.

This is very true, and it's a sad state of affairs - but you're entirely correct, despite being a lot more expensive than last year, they are in fact the best value for money at the moment.