Some specific questions re SQ transit and IFE.

[smit0847]

Hi all

Have a trip on SQ booked for September/October this year MEL - CDG return via SIN all Y class. MEL-SIN is A380 with Y upperdeck, SIN-CDG-SIN is A380 all Business upperdeck and SIN-MEL is 777. We got a very cheap deal through our travel agent.

Trip is a special occasion for me and my partner so want to make it as smooth and special as possible.

A few questions:

1. Is there any affordable way to get lounge access at any of MEL, SIN or CDG? I am not a KF member as havent travelled SQ for years - I'm a VA FF Silver (still 180 SCs off gold and unlikely to reach it). We will be doing a fair bit of random intra-Europe flights so something like the Priority Pass would be good but its useless in MEL. Likely Euro airports we will be flying in and out of will be LHR, CDG, HEL, BCN, ATH and ARN (no idea which airlines yet). Likely be going BFOD rather than sticking with 1 airline (I'd like to try as many random airlines as possible actually).

2. I know the A380 Y seats have a USB plug to watch your own movies/tv shows etc. Anyone know what file types are playable? Are .avi ok?

3. What's would the average loads on these legs be like in September/October? If we select a window and ailse seat is it likely no-one will take the middle? (this is a trick that often works for us on domestic). We were thinking about paying for exit rows for the overnight flights but I do not want to be next to babies or toilets as they will keep me awake far more than limited leg room will!

4. Any general tips for the flights? I travel a lot but my partner hasn't been overseas for many years.

Any help would be much appeciated.

 

[albatross710]

1. Is there any affordable way to get lounge access at any of MEL, SIN or CDG? I am not a KF member as havent travelled SQ for years - I'm a VA FF Silver (still 180 SCs off gold and unlikely to reach it). We will be doing a fair bit of random intra-Europe flights so something like the Priority Pass would be good but its useless in MEL. Likely Euro airports we will be flying in and out of will be LHR, CDG, HEL, BCN, ATH and ARN (no idea which airlines yet). Likely be going BFOD rather than sticking with 1 airline (I'd like to try as many random airlines as possible actually).

Sounds like a great trip ahead. The variety of airlines is going to make it difficult to get consistent access.

I know in Singapore I have used the facilities of the Ambassador Transit Lounge. S$30 for 5 hours. Harilela Hospitality

Have a great trip.

 

[wafliron]

Have a trip on SQ booked for September/October this year MEL - CDG return via SIN all Y class. MEL-SIN is A380 with Y upperdeck, SIN-CDG-SIN is A380 all Business upperdeck and SIN-MEL is 777. We got a very cheap deal through our travel agent.

Trip is a special occasion for me and my partner so want to make it as smooth and special as possible.

Sounds like a fun trip, hope you have fun. I'm also going MEL-SIN-CDG and vv, but in August

To assist with a couple of your questions:

1. Is there any affordable way to get lounge access at any of MEL, SIN or CDG?

SIN has a bunch of lounges which you can pay for access to (without Priority Pass) - search this forum for more info. Also, showers available at the transit hotels for a small fee (I think) - if you have time you can even head over to T1 and have a swim in the airside pool (with shower access included afterwards)! All that said, SIN is such a good airport you barely need lounge access unless you really want a shower.

2. I know the A380 Y seats have a USB plug to watch your own movies/tv shows etc. Anyone know what file types are playable? Are .avi ok?

Can't help with the USB question, but you may not need it - SQ IFE is really good, VOD with a very good selection of content on the 777 (refit)/A380 fleet.

3. What's would the average loads on these legs be like in September/October? If we select a window and ailse seat is it likely no-one will take the middle? (this is a trick that often works for us on domestic). We were thinking about paying for exit rows for the overnight flights but I do not want to be next to babies or toilets as they will keep me awake far more than limited leg room will!

4. Any general tips for the flights? I travel a lot but my partner hasn't been overseas for many years.

I can't help with the loadings at that time of year, nor the idea of selecting aisle and window seats and hoping for no on in the middle - I'd imagine it may work though, and at worst even if you end up with someone in between you I'd imagine they'd be happy to swap for either a window or an aisle once you board.

That aside, two suggestions:

1) On the MEL-SIN, if there are two seats free in row 81 (ideally 81A/C or 81H/K) then I'd highly recommend you stump up for the exit row seat fee and grab them - they're great seats as they have exit row legroom and are not near toilets / galley. Even if row 81 isn't free you may want to consider any of the other A/C or H/K pairs on the upper deck (except row 82) as the two-abreast seating is great for a couple. Only downside to the upper deck Y seats is that you feel a lot of "wiggle" in the plane - the rear of the A380s tend to yaw around quite a bit. Not a big deal though.

2) On the other flights I'd still recommend exit row on the lower deck - yes you do have to deal with people congregating in front of you, galley / toilet nearby and possibly babies, but having sat in both row 44 and 54 I'd still rate them as far more comfortable overall than a standard Y seat. YMMV though, I guess it depends on your priorities.

Hope that helps.

 

[Danger UXB]

Re question 2
The USB is really only good for charging iphones, ipads etc. It does play photos from a usb stick or digital camera. The J seats have a yellow (video) input as well but these don't work except on the a340 nand a330.See this link
http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/flying-with-us/connectivity/

The IFE is fine though
Have a good trip,enjoy the good exchange rate
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[albatross710]

Actually Danger UXB post reminded me of something I did do with the SQ IFE. On a previous trip report (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....and-trip-photos/sq-bne-sin-ams-cdg-19865.html) I discovered the following.

iPhone operation
I took the opportunity inflight to find out what sort of interactivity I could achieve with the iphone. The standard USB cord doesn't provide any functionality other than to charge the battery. I asked 'Yvonne' for the apple lead. This lead enabled the phone to play my music through the IFE. I also tested the video functionality and was able to play my video podcasts through the IFE. Pretty impressed with that. See picture.

The thing is that it needs a specific iPhone lead that they carry on board. It was available in J on my previous flights.

 

[Danger UXB]

Hi Alby
what plane were you on?. I have asked for these leads on 380 and 777w. The SQ link I posted says only on 340 and 330 which was the answer I received when I asked for them.
I even have a TV out cable for my ipod which when plugged into the yellow video in on the Jseat on 380 and 777w did nothing
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[albatross710]

Hi Alby
what plane were you on?. I have asked for these leads on 380 and 777w. The SQ link I posted says only on 340 and 330 which was the answer I received when I asked for them.
I even have a TV out cable for my ipod which when plugged into the yellow video in on the Jseat on 380 and 777w did nothing
Cheers Danger UXB

Now that I look back, I was on the A330 with the regional J seat.