F points redemption Europe to Melbourne via SIN

[badseed]

Hi good folks,

I'm looking at booking a points redemption in F from ZRH to MEL via SIN on SQ for early Feb '26. These will open up at -355 days late next week.

Just a question on whether it's advisable to book the ZRH-SIN and SIN-MEL as seperate redemptions, given that the 2nd leg won't be open for another 24 hours when it hits -355 days. Or is it better to wait that extra 24 hours and risk losing the seat on that first flight in order to have more protection under a single booking should delays / cancellations hit the first leg? At this point I'd leaning towards separate bookings, and maybe spending an extra night in Singapore (minimum 16 hours between the arrival of the ZRH flight, and the departure of next MEL flight with F anyway), but thought I would ask the experts.

Cheers

 

[Scr77]

Seperate bookings will have a higher points cost. When you search as 1 ticket, how often are the seats available?

 

[badseed]

Seperate bookings will have a higher points cost. When you search as 1 ticket, how often are the seats available?

Probably around 30% of the time in recent weeks for 2 pax, but trending slightly higher as we get further from the mid/late Jan peak return from Europe rush. So at best a coin toss, which I think is not worth the risk.

The points difference for separate flights is a minor annoyance, but even after booking this at the higher rates I've got to burn another heap due to expire early next year. Plus I earn more wife points by securing a confirmed F seat for her ;-)

 

[Scr77]

Well, I guess it depends on how flexible you want to be with the travel date.

 

[I love to travel]

To set expectations F rewards on SQ into and out of Australia are almost impossible in saver so I hope you have enough points for Advantage

 

[Jacques Vert]

The points difference for separate flights is a minor annoyance, but even after booking this at the higher rates I've got to burn another heap due to expire early next year. Plus I earn more wife points by securing a confirmed F seat for her ;-)

Well if the points are going to expire anyway, it makes sense to use them now (unless you will have the opportunity to use them on another trip).

 

[zsw]

I've done this previously when wanting to add a second F leg onto a trip (HKG - SIN - CGK) but with a 3 week layover. I booked the first leg HKG - SIN when those tickets came out, then added on the SIN - CGK leg when it became available.

From memory I'm not even sure they charged me a change fee as it was Advantage.

 

[badseed]

Managed to get all of my flights so thanks all for your advice! 2 x Saver F from ZRH to SIN, and then 2 x Advantage F from SIN to MEL. SQ may not be a flashy as the ME3, but I particularly love the predictability of Krisflyer redemptions, and the low cash component. It may not be as easy to earn as with say QFF or Velocity, and I'll struggle to get status but great for actually booking F and J.

 

[MathNerd]

Managed to get all of my flights so thanks all for your advice! 2 x Saver F from ZRH to SIN, and then 2 x Advantage F from SIN to MEL.

That's wonderful, thanks for reporting back! I'm guessing you booked these separately, so each flight is on separate PNRs? Great that you had enough points to blow on all these!

SQ may not be a flashy as the ME3, but I particularly love the predictability of Krisflyer redemptions, and the low cash component.

The predictability plus low taxes (no insane "carrier surcharge/fuel surcharge/price gouging" ala EK) makes SQ a very, very useful program. Learn its ins and outs, and as long as you have enough points, are planning a trip a whole year out, and know the routes that they fly, you can definitely get J seats for all your long haul flying. A little bit of hard work goes a very long way!

It may not be as easy to earn as with say QFF or Velocity, and I'll struggle to get status but great for actually booking F and J.

Agreed. It's really hard to earn SQ miles, however with the VA partnership (albeit with a 1.55 ratio loss) and/or the use of Aeroplan points, booking SQ J (and to a lesser extent, F) tickets is a great way to travel!