SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Cruiser Elite]

The long awaited upgrade of TPR has been delayed again - originally slated to be completed in 2016 works will now not commence until 2017 and senior staff have no idea of dates.

 

[alexy23]

Can someone use the VA lounge as they are partners if it has a VA codeshare but booked on SQ? Is the VA lounge any better?

 

[TomVexille]

Can someone use the VA lounge as they are partners if it has a VA codeshare but booked on SQ? Is the VA lounge any better?

What VA lounge?

 

[alexy23]

What VA lounge?

Oh that answers that then.

 

[seanpodge]

Hi all. Have lurked on this thread for a while but this is my first post.

We have not flown Singapore Airlines before but I have just booked flights from Beijing to Sydney in J for next July using Velocity pts. Both legs on an A380.

What lounge will we use in Beijing and is it worth getting there early?

The connection in Singapore is only 1hr 45min. Will we have time to visit the Singapore lounge?

Any tips on the best seats and will we be able to reserve seats when they are booked through Velocity? We are a couple so I guess the middle seats would be best although we could take a window seat behind one another.

Very new to all this so any advice appreciated.

I agree with the others that neither lounge (BGS or Air China) at PEK is great or worth coming in early for. Although, that said, the Air China lounge have recently installed new, rather nice and improved showers in their lounge which are good if you need a wash.

1:45 is enough for a quick visit to the lounge. Only note is that security is done at the gate in SIN, so you should leave the lounge a few minutes earlier than usual to go through the security check.

No first hand experience of SQ J myself so I'll leave those issues to others.

 

[dajop]

1:45 is enough for a quick visit to the lounge. Only note is that security is done at the gate in SIN, so you should leave the lounge a few minutes earlier than usual to go through the security check.

1:45 leaves plenty of time ... I usually leave home for airport (SIN) only 1:30 before my flight and still get at least 30 mins in the lounge.

Really no need to leave the lounge "earlier than usual". If you get to the gate late security queues are non-existent by then. For anyone other than the serial late boarders (you know who you are ... aim is to be in the last dozen to board the plane ) there are no issues. Even for the late boarders SQ close their flights strictly at 10 mins before departure, so can aim be at the gate around 15 mins before departure, which means leaving the lounge 20-30 mins before departure depending on gate.

 

[seanpodge]

1:45 leaves plenty of time ... I usually leave home for airport (SIN) only 1:30 before my flight and still get at least 30 mins in the lounge.

Really no need to leave the lounge "earlier than usual". If you get to the gate late security queues are non-existent by then. For anyone other than the serial late boarders (you know who you are ... aim is to be in the last dozen to board the plane ) there are no issues. Even for the late boarders SQ close their flights strictly at 10 mins before departure, so can aim be at the gate around 15 mins before departure, which means leaving the lounge 20-30 mins before departure depending on gate.

Not me, no siree Bob!

 

[woodyren]

Thank you all for the advice.

 

[andy2015]

The long awaited upgrade of TPR has been delayed again - originally slated to be completed in 2016 works will now not commence until 2017 and senior staff have no idea of dates.

Done by June 2017 unlikely? Is the current one going to be closed during or will it be in a new space?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Done by June 2017 unlikely? Is the current one going to be closed during or will it be in a new space?

IMHO zero chance completion June 2017 - maybe not even commenced by then. My advice is that there will be no move in location - original plan was just a 'makeover' of existing TPR - but with the serious challenges thrown at SQ by competitors new lounges a review of that original plan may be the reason for delay - just my thoughts here and no advice from anybody re this.

I kinda think SQ are feeling TPR/F Lounge space a bit restricted as it is - they may well be in negot with Changi Airport Corp for extended space - lord knows how this would be achieved.

 

[alexy23]

If one was staying at Crowne Plaza Changi, and wanted to enjoy a breakfast with champagne at Flounge before departure. How much time would I need to allow? 1:45 as suggested?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Who suggested 1:45? I would say depends how fast and how long you want to eat and drink! But to be serious 1hr plenty time 1.5hrs with that quality champagne and you may well be banking port or starboard on boarding!

Again there sippers and slurpers - there are niblers and gluttons - I am in first category - penegal in latter.

 

[travelislife]

Taxes on CNX-SIN-BNE return are ~THB14,500 or ~AUD560. :shock:

Makes my 42,500 Amex points worth very little. Seriously don't know why I bother.

Can you transfer them to ROP (Thai airways). Taxes would only be 3000 baht or so if originating in Thailand.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Had a long chat with IFS Martin on SQ25 FRA-SIN today and also received a lot of input from Leading Stewardess Lena who was working the F cabin. Primarily I wanted to quiz them re crewing in particular classes - here is basics of what I gleaned:

Rosters: Rosters are set about 3 to 2 weeks in advance - so for October rosters - crew are expecting them within next week - no definitive set date but basically 1st or 2nd week each month in advance.

Destinations: Basically no choice in destination - crew are rostered in a pretty pure sense of that word. Except that certain crew with language skills will receive more regular roster destination if they are proficient in the language of the destinations - maybe like 4 to 6 times are year - never week after week after week - well that makes sense huh?

Crew can readily 'swap' roster assignments with other 'like for like' crew members provided such swap doesn't contravene 'hours worked' protocols which are strictly enforced. SQ Management have no problem at all with acceptable roster assignment swapping.

Cabin Designation: For ALL SQ flts cabin crew must report to bowels of Changi not less than 2hrs prior to flt dep for briefing. IFS (In Flight Supervisor) will normally arrive 3 to 3.5hrs prior to dep. It is the task of IFS to allocate cabin positions to ALL crew based on experience and level of training for that particular flt. Newbies to rear - exp crew to front - clearly the only drawback to flying SQ F!

This cabin allocation is often also taken in conjunction with input from other senior crew members. The 'goodun's' know how to climb the ranks and are more than willing to contribute to the decision making process and also arrive early to participate and assist. Cabin allocation is NON NEGOTIABLE - in the words of IFS Martin 'We are professionals - we are not kids'.

Snip from another thread:

I've read that alternating Y/F cabins for the inbound/outbound legs is not uncommon for SQ FAs...

No this just cannot happen.

Crew Removal: Snip from another thread:

I was on a SQ flight years ago in F to LHR and it so happened that I flew out with the same crew (that was funny) and apart from remembering my champagne preference the CSM came to me after boarding and apologised for a supposed poor service incident from a FA on the flight in and told me "She is working Economy on the flight home" (! that's Singapore style for you!). Funny thing is I had a sensational flight in so not sure where he got the idea I had a service failure, but boy... I felt bad for the FA relegated to Y just like that. ouch!

Yes this can happen - extremely extremely rare but can happen. IFS advised that in his 27yrs as IFS he has only ever been required to one time remove a crew member from F cabin and replace her. He believes it was just a total 'chemistry' clash between pax and Crew Member - he believes pax totally misinterpreted a statement / comment by crew member to pax - this was not a language problem - but it did happen. Crew Member at time was quite distraught but her record received no tarnish after she was invited 'To have a cup of coffee with Management' on return to SIN. IFS was also in attendance at this meeting. Again in words of IFS 'F pax are Ks and Qs'.

Crew Seniority: Complex and I am never going to try indicate that I have intimate knowledge of process but here are some simplistic indications:

Blue Dress / Blue Tie - Flight Stewardess / Flight Steward - Newbies always start in Y - just like any occupational employment they start at the bottom and gain experience - training period for Y cabin crew is 3mths.

Green Dress / Green Tie - Leading Steward / Leading Stewardess - Progression to this level usually takes ~5 to 6yrs employment but can be fast tracked by on board performance and customer feedback - performance regularly reviewed on each flt via senior cabin crew - pax feed back pretty straightforward - SQ do take pax feedback very seriously.

Cabin Training - Crew must be trained to work each cabin - entry level or Y training takes 3 mths and then if accepted they are up up and away. After approx 12mths employment crew members can apply to undertake the 'Business Class' training course. If accepted a 2 day course is required and if they are assessed as acceptable they can then work J cabins.

As posted above after 5 or 6 yrs employment and depending on pax recos crew can then apply to undertake 3 week F training course - if accepted into course and successful completion then they are upper and upper away.

Red Dress / Red Tie - Chief Stewardess / Chief Steward - After a further 3yrs employment and depending on performance reviews / pax feedback Greenies can then be invited to undertake further training to Chief positions - prized positions and has to be deserved. Once invited there is a further 3wk training course involved and if completed successfully they can then 'Don the Red Sash'. (Any Bombers supporters reading this?)

Purple Dress / Purple Tie - Inflight Supervisor Female / Inflight Supervisor Male - Final step up the chain to Inflight Supervisor - clearly the prized position and one which must be deserved. Further 3 to 5 to 7 yrs exp and a host of other factors - inflight performance assessments by IFS on flts they have crewed / pax feedback / on time perf for ALL assignments / activities / tasks / multitude of extra curricula activities continually monitored. SQ crew numbers ~8K at moment - 500 IFS - 1 in 16 for you infinity - probably similar scenario to most other International Carriers no doubt.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Am currently ensconced in TPR having brekkie after arriving on SQ25 from FRA. Flt was booked 11mths ago and selected my usual 3C. Checked seat map few days ago and 3D still showing vacant so appears I will get the double Suite 3C/D all to my lonesome - I like that.

Headed from lounge to board and am greeted at boarding area by a checkin agent who grabs me - 'Mr Elite you are seated in 3C with vacant 3D beside you - we have a couple who are seated separately so would you consider moving to a window seat so they can sit together?'

Before I could answer she went on 'Clearly you have selected your preferred seat and are quite entitled to keep it - that will not be a problem'. My answer was simple 'No problem - I travel often with my wife and we always sit together in the double Suites so it is no problem at all for me to move seats so they can enjoy the flight together'.

I am RHD so my seat must be a C or F - As and Ds just don't cut it - 3F vacant so I settle there. Couple who are now going to occupy 3C/D board - take their seats - and absolutely ZERO acknowledgment of me giving up my selected seat so they could sit together.

No biggie - certainly not a life changing experience but it does make you wonder.

 

[bismarck]

Couple who are now going to occupy 3C/D board - take their seats - and absolutely ZERO acknowledgment of me giving up my selected seat so they could sit together.

No biggie - certainly not a life changing experience but it does make you wonder.

Maybe they didn't know someone gave it up? SQ are pretty good at just subtly solving problems without knowledge of pax.

 

[awkwardpaws]

I am RHD so my seat must be a C or F - As and Ds just don't cut it - 3F vacant so I settle there. Couple who are now going to occupy 3C/D board - take their seats - and absolutely ZERO acknowledgment of me giving up my selected seat so they could sit together.

No biggie - certainly not a life changing experience but it does make you wonder.

Maybe SQ dressed it up as: (to the couple) "we went out of our way to solve the issue and make your life better" and they left it at that?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Maybe they didn't know someone gave it up? SQ are pretty good at just subtly solving problems without knowledge of pax.

Maybe SQ dressed it up as: (to the couple) "we went out of our way to solve the issue and make your life better" and they left it at that?

Absolutely not - I have been on both sides of the process many times - I could recite the conversation to you word by word - the couple did receive original boarding passes for whatever seats they were allocated and would have been clearly told that SQ staff would ask pax in 3C at boarding gate if they would mind moving to allow them to sit together but they should bear in mind if that pax desires to stay in their selected seat then they cannot be shifted - SQs protocols are 100% clear on this matter.

 

[Abdul_A350]

I think it is quite possible the passengers would not know where the person who had so kindly moved for them was sitting. I have been thanked once before when I did not actually do anything.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I think it is quite possible the passengers would not know where the person who had so kindly moved for them was sitting. I have been thanked once before when I did not actually do anything.

Maybe they didn't - but I think just kinda common decency to actually find that pax who gave up their selected seat and make a point of thanking them.

Oh and it's not like there are 1000 pax in R - 8 pax in total - a couple in 2C/D - obviously they were not a solo pax who gave up 3C - so that leaves 4 other pax in R - crickey all of a sudden asking 4 people not really that onerous is it?

Maybe I come from a distant past period of history where courtesy and manners were instilled into us as children - whatever - as I said not an earth shattering experience and won't affect me doing same thing again in future but I just find it interesting.