SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[lovetravellingoz]

So best to be the first one 48hrs prior to departure to have the best chance of getting bulkhead seats I guess?

Well that may be almost a year too late as many like me often book their flights, and seats at the same time, the day award bookings open.

 

[kamchatsky]

Indeed SQ have started to restrict J cabin bulkhead seat selection - currently restricted to Elite Gold status or above. TBH I do not know if agents can override if you call - I suspect they can but have not asked that specific Q.

Back to 380 on SIN-SYD route - call ctr agents TTPIT have not been advised which flts will be involved - I have been promised notification as soon as they are advised - I will post if info comes to hand. Word may well get out before staff officially notified but who would know.

Why not just book both flights? Then you have it all covered!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We are talking SQ here - not QF - once you have confirmed seat selection it will 100% stick regardless of status.

Though I have had several bookings were SQ changed the metal without notifying me and either gave me random seats or no seats. Luckily I had randomly checked on my booking to re-select seats, but not always being able to gain the "best" seats like I had.

 

[JohnK]

We are talking SQ here - not QF - once you have confirmed seat selection it will 100% stick regardless of status.

Not quite Cruiser.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not quite Cruiser.

Cattle class doesn't count Johnny - try getting up the front where the big boys play!

 

[cove]

So I like being a nobody CE along with drron on SQ. We may have to buy a ticket or two in the future.
Mrscove and our work partners really like Suites class but we are keeping that as a secret.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We may have to buy a ticket or two in the future.

I too am having nightmares about shelling out real $s for comm tix - but we aint there yet - I won't go down without a fight.

 

[cove]

Yes I am not rushing either but Mrscove thinks quite differently to me. I go looking for the best deal with rebates,discounts and wholesale purchasing. I look at flying on points and miles as buying at a wholesale price.
I have that for AA, QF,VA and SQ.
Meanwhile I am waiting for Hotel Chocolat to get our order done thru topcashback but don't tell my cardiologist.

 

[mel-world]

I am obviously of a different view to many on this thread in that I am a retiree who does not own a business (so cannot accumulate points with ATO payments and the like) and has not been able to churn my way thru numerous credit cards each year due to a lack of income. I value the points I earn, mainly through flying on commercial tickets and appreciate the few upgrades I can get as a result. I am very pleased that the new ATO rules will make it harder to quickly accumulate millions of miles in a FF program so there are more seats available less than 11 and a half months in advance on popular routes (like SIN-FRA-JFK and return).

I wonder how much SQ actually receives from a points redemption (not the full value of a commercial ticket surely) so they should appreciate their loyal customers, notwithstanding their recent enhancements (but at least these came with some givebacks attached). Like LH and some other European airlines, I do not have a problem with seat selection and wait-list clearance etc. being prioritised to their high value (PPS, TPPS) customers. Long may it continue, especially if Suite Class is upgraded and the number of seats is reduced.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The rumour is that airlines get about 1c each selling them to the bank. Not all miles will be redeemed of course, so they make some money there, but the bulk of the money comes at redemption time... standard award seats (as opposed to premium or anytime award seats at double or treble the price) are seats which the airline doesn't expect to sell. So for a 100k award, they'll be getting $1000 in cash for an otherwise empty seat. Take out catering, and fuel and you still have profit left over.

 

[dajop]

I am very pleased that the new ATO rules will make it harder to quickly accumulate millions of miles in a FF program so there are more seats available less than 11 and a half months in advance on popular routes (like SIN-FRA-JFK and return)..

Don't think anything that ATO and Australian credit card programs do will have any impact on SIN-FRA-JFK availability. That route is one of the, if not the, aspirational route for credit card churners in the US. Maybe there will a modest impact on routes like ZRH, CDG and LHR.

 

[Pele]

The rumour is that airlines get about 1c each selling them to the bank. Not all miles will be redeemed of course, so they make some money there, but the bulk of the money comes at redemption time... standard award seats (as opposed to premium or anytime award seats at double or treble the price) are seats which the airline doesn't expect to sell. So for a 100k award, they'll be getting $1000 in cash for an otherwise empty seat. Take out catering, and fuel and you still have profit left over.

Gday

Not sure about SQ but Qantas charges 1.5 cents excluding GST for each frequent flyer point they sell. I have seen this price at multiple companies. Not sure if there is any bulk discount for the large buyers. I doubt it. They almost run a monopoly.

Pele.

 

[dajop]

T Take out catering, and fuel and you still have profit left over.

Depends on how much Krug is consumed

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have been remiss in not following up with info re pax swapping J to R / R to J on flts May 5 and 14. 830 SIN-PVG on May 5 was delayed 3.5hrs but on boarding I asked crew if my sister could take my Suite seat and I would sit in her J seat. Absolutely no hesitation in accommodating and as I explained it was their first ever R/F flts for the 2 of them in Suites that day. Crew assured me they would look after them like Queens - which they did.

I then made my way up to her seat 22F on upper deck 380 - by the time I arrived at seat and joined 3rd sister in 22D Ivan the Cabin Manager knew my name and full story behind plan. Ivan even imm offered to fetch a Krug from R cabin for myself pre takeoff but I said no tks the std CH in J would do fine. Once in air Ivan continually visited again offering Krug or Dom or any of the R wines - I told him tks but no - fair is fair - if I swap out I swap out totally.

I asked Ivan if he could ask IFS to wander up to see me as I wanted to pass on my appreciation for the swap. Ivan advised their was no IFS on this flt as he was involved in something in SIN and didn't join flt - BUT - there was an Auditor on flt if I wanted to talk to her. I said yes pls - the Auditor was Ivy who I posted pic earlier in thread.

Ret PEK-SIN on 807 was going to be same plan - as I attempted to enter air bridge with sister in tow we were stopped by a very firm and officious Chinese ground crew member - just no way anybody holding a blue J BP was getting up that air bridge to fwd door where Suites pax board - lucky this is a very short air bridge and crew could see the minor commotion - crew members came out to see what was going on and they sanctioned the 2 of us entering - explained the swap and all was cool again - not a hint in hesitation in agreeing to swap.

Same deal on 237 SIN-MEL on 77N - swap out totally fine and 2 of the girls enjoyed their F exp. This was my first exp in new J - wow what a fabulous seat - foot well does look small but when bed employed I absolutely had no broblem with feeling feet were restricted during 7hr sleep. The girls enjoyed they F exp with Champs before retiring then brekky before landing - I never eat breakfast on any o/n flt either to or from Oz.

Edit: I should have added I have always been disappointed in the SQ J Diamond Seats on 380 / 77W (1-2-1 config) to 'sit' in - I always felt you had to sit skewed which I felt not acceptable but fine to 'sleep' in - yet the Weber J seats on 773 (2-2-2 Reg layout) were excellent to 'sit' in but dogs to 'sleep' in - but the new J seat just fabulous for both.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Quick question for the SQ gurus.

Flying SQ J (Redemption) from ADL-SIN-MUC shortly. I know I can guest into the SQ lounge in ADL, but wondering if I can guest into the SQ SilverKris lounge in SQ? If not, can I enter into (and guest) into the SQ Gold lounge in SIN? It's a significant layover (unfortunately), so not sure what the protocol is.

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[theblank]

I am intending to fly from BNE>SIN and beyond, using VFF points, but the flights I want are waitlisted in both J & Y redemptions. (Its 6 months out, and the same flights are open the weeks before and after, why do airlines always know when I want to fly). Melbourne has availability on every flight every class to SIN.

Is it worth the extra effort & time (cost doesnt bother me) to travel to Melbourne and get the J seat on the A380 instead, which seems to be better?,
compared to the A330 or 777-200 out of BNE. I have no idea, I havent flown either in J, but I have checked out some reviews.

 

[cove]

Yes it is but we don't do it from Perth.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

If it is a daytime flt then IMHO the 2-2-2 Webber / Regional seats are equally as good to bigger 1-2-1 Diamond 380/777 seats to sit in and to relax in and dine in and watch movies etc in - I stress again - for daytime flying. Soft product same same - if o/n flt or you want to sleep the angled 2-2-2 seats are not acceptable.

 

[theblank]

If it is a daytime flt then IMHO the 2-2-2 Webber / Regional seats are equally as good to bigger 1-2-1 Diamond 380/777 seats to sit in and to relax in and dine in and watch movies etc in - I stress again - for daytime flying. Soft product same same - if o/n flt or you want to sleep the angled 2-2-2 seats are not acceptable.

OK, thanks, I just checked Seatguru again, and SQ246 which departs BNE at 23:55 daily is a 777-200 V1 and according to this, is 2-3-2 and doesnt even have flat bed seats. Are they kidding me?
https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/S...e_Air_Boeing_777-200_2.php?flightno=246&date=

seems like from Brisbane at least, the 0910 flight out SQ 256 which is a Airbus 330-300 has that 2-2-2 configuration but also Flat bed.

 

[dajop]

OK, thanks, I just checked Seatguru again, and SQ246 which departs BNE at 23:55 daily is a 777-200 V1 and according to this, is 2-3-2 and doesnt even have flat bed seats. Are they kidding me? .

At six months notice it definitely won't be that type of plane. They are only used on regularly scheduled BKK and MNL services. I am seeing from expertflyer that SQ 246 is operated by retro-fitted 777-200ER's, which have the 1-2-1 configured lie flat seating. Go and do a dummy booking on the SQ website, on the second screen it will allow you do seat selection prior to payment, that will show configuration. Alternatively, tell us the date and one of us can look it up on expertflyer.