SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[jbman]

Just got an email saying from October BNE -SIN route is getting upgraded to the A350 for most fights. No more A330

 

[desafinado74]

Hi guys,
Does the First Class counter at Changi open the whole day ?
I am going to book a first class flight from SIN to MEL for next July (The one departing at midnight).
So i was wondering if i could check in, in the early evening, if i can't get a late check out from my hotel ?

Also, once you clear immigration at the first class counter, can you access the retail shops etc inside T3 ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi guys,
Does the First Class counter at Changi open the whole day ?
I am going to book a first class flight from SIN to MEL for next July (The one departing at midnight).
So i was wondering if i could check in, in the early evening, if i can't get a late check out from my hotel ?

Also, once you clear immigration at the first class counter, can you access the retail shops etc inside T3 ?

'yes' to all of the above.

Check-in hours 0500-2200/0200 (depending on terminal): https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/flying-withus/before-the-flight/lounges/firstclass-checkin/

Once you're in the terminal you're in the terminal, just like any other passenger. Free to wander around till your heart's content.

 

[desafinado74]

Thanks again MeL_Traveller That is fantastic to know.

 

[RAM]

Thanks again MeL_Traveller That is fantastic to know.

as well as go in and out of the First Class lounge and if flying Suites - The Private Room with its showers etc

 

[Dannyism]

Looking for thoughts.. Good idea or bad idea?

I want to book a two or three week holiday to Europe with myself and partner. Probably to Spain but the final destination is irrelevant. We are based in MEL.

I'm thinking of booking SYD-LON//ZHR-SYD in suites (A380 not B777) using points. I will book this in for late August returning early September 2018.

My considerations are... I want to get into the A380 refurb. I'm concerned that less, maybe even only 1, award saver will be available. Syd-Lon is probably the first to get it. I already got somewhat burned with the recent points increase, having to whip up an extra 150k KF points. My partners job is uncertain as she is on a contract, so we need the option to cancel if we have to.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking for thoughts.. Good idea or bad idea?

I want to book a two or three week holiday to Europe with myself and partner. Probably to Spain but the final destination is irrelevant. We are based in MEL.

I'm thinking of booking SYD-LON//ZHR-SYD in suites (A380 not B777) using points. I will book this in for late August returning early September 2018.

My considerations are... I want to get into the A380 refurb. I'm concerned that less, maybe even only 1, award saver will be available. Syd-Lon is probably the first to get it. I already got somewhat burned with the recent points increase, having to whip up an extra 150k KF points. My partners job is uncertain as she is on a contract, so we need the option to cancel if we have to.

i think SYD, rather than London will be the first with the new suites in 2018. I thought it was much cheaper if you tack on a star alliance partner for a connection? (turning it from an SQ to a star alliance award)

 

[boffman]

Looking for thoughts.. Good idea or bad idea?

I want to book a two or three week holiday to Europe with myself and partner. Probably to Spain but the final destination is irrelevant. We are based in MEL.

I'm thinking of booking SYD-LON//ZHR-SYD in suites (A380 not B777) using points. I will book this in for late August returning early September 2018.

My considerations are... I want to get into the A380 refurb. I'm concerned that less, maybe even only 1, award saver will be available. Syd-Lon is probably the first to get it. I already got somewhat burned with the recent points increase, having to whip up an extra 150k KF points. My partners job is uncertain as she is on a contract, so we need the option to cancel if we have to.

Have a think about redeeming a star alliance award. Less miles and you can get to Spain with another *A carrier (e.g. Lufthansa from FRA). You can also have an open jaw, so you can fly into one European city and back home out of another.

How to combine travel on Singapore Airlines and its partners to maximise stopovers - Point Hacks

As for refurb A380, I don't know. Launch looks like it's delayed. I wouldn't start planning a trip around which version of suites you'll fly in, you'll tie yourself in knots.
https://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-airlines-new-airbus-a380-may-not-fly-until-early-2018

 

[lovetravellingoz]

i think SYD, rather than London will be the first with the new suites in 2018. I thought it was much cheaper if you tack on a star alliance partner for a connection? (turning it from an SQ to a star alliance award)

SYD-SIN and return seems to be the popular tip for the first commercial route.

SIN-LHR and return seems to be the popular tip for the second commercial route. Maybe by April...

But by August 2018 both should be up and about, but with the caveat that there may not be more than one new Suite A380 per day on each leg and so one may not necessarily snag the new suite even if one is booked on an A380.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. My partners job is uncertain as she is on a contract, so we need the option to cancel if we have to.

Well that is the good thing about booking redemption through Krisflyer. If you cancel it is just a small fee. All points and taxes and charges paid are refunded.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

We are based in MEL.

If you're asking about whether it's worth flying out of SYD rather than MEL, then yeah, I'd take the gamble.

And you could try flying out of LHR on the way back (possibly in conjunction with a LH etc. flight on a Star Alliance award) if you're particularly keen to improve your odds.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And you could try flying out of LHR on the way back (possibly in conjunction with a LH etc. flight on a Star Alliance award) if you're particularly keen to improve your odds.

Why would that increase the odds if a new suite? First leg would be say on LH metal. And based on speculation LHR is more likely than FRA at this stage. Though again who knows.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Why would that increase the odds if a new suite? First leg would be say on LH metal. And based on speculation LHR is more likely than FRA at this stage. Though again who knows.

Just saying that both SIN-LHR and LHR-SIN might improve the odds.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Have a think about redeeming a star alliance award. Less miles and you can get to Spain with another *A carrier (e.g. Lufthansa from FRA). You can also have an open jaw, so you can fly into one European city and back home out of another.

How to combine travel on Singapore Airlines and its partners to maximise stopovers - Point Hacks

As for refurb A380, I don't know. Launch looks like it's delayed. I wouldn't start planning a trip around which version of suites you'll fly in, you'll tie yourself in knots.
https://www.ausbt.com.au/singapore-airlines-new-airbus-a380-may-not-fly-until-early-2018

Less points yes. But note that the *A partners will most likely still charge fuel fines and if a longer flight these can be hefty. Shorter hops are not too bad, but for longer flights it may be better to just pay the extra points depending on how easy you can gain points.

I have booked a *A from Copenhagen to MEL via FRA (Frankfurt) for July 2017.

Booked as a *A redemption in First. FRA-SIN-MEL is all in Suites. CPH-FRA is on LH metal in their short haul business class (there is no first).

Taxes and charges were 178.50$ SGD with fuel fines 78.60$. If we had of flown direct from CPH on all SQ metal cost would have been well under 100$ SGD (ie the extra airport adds on cost)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just saying that both SIN-LHR and LHR-SIN might improve the odds.

I agree with that, but not the possibly in conjunction with a LH etc. flight on a Star Alliance award where it would then be LHR-???-SIN

 

[NoName]

Approx how long does it take to refurb an A380? Assuming the 1st is done by end of March when would you expect the entire fleet (14??) to be done by?

 

[BacchusMarsh]

LHR-???-SIN

That wasn't what I meant. Out of LHR on SQ, use flights on other Star Alliance airlines if you want to start somewhere else.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I want to book a two or three week holiday to Europe with myself and partner. Probably to Spain but the final destination is irrelevant. We are based in MEL.

I'm thinking of booking SYD-LHR//ZHR-SYD in suites (A380 not B777) using points. I will book this in for late August returning early September 2018.

.

Looking for thoughts.. Good idea or bad idea? .

Firstly while I know that you said that you would like to be in the new Suites, how important is this over say it taking more time? What will your partner most enjoy? What is more important, new suites vs maximising enjoyment?

With me, and I am based in MEL too, I really do not like the extra hassle of flying to the domestic SYD terminal, getting the bus to the international terminal and then onto the flight from SYD-SIN.

So for me having to route via SYD would start the holiday on a real negative. Plus you lose many travel hours effectively just going sideways. New suite would be a buzz, but not worth it for me, and morseo at present where the A380 you book may or may not have it as if SQ does introduce it on the route but does not mean that they would introduce it for all A380 flights out of SYD. Indeed I think it more likely that early on that SQ will spread the love by introducing the new suites onto various routes before they would start doubling up.



Purely for enjoyment what I would do is just book a flight out of MEL in the daytime so that you can lap up all that F offers. The advantage of Suites is more the SIN-Europe leg where the flight is much longer.

For my flight to Europe in 2018 we are in F to SIN and then in Suites to LHR on he morning flight after staying in the Crowne Plaza overnight. This will gives us all daylight hours in F and Suites (hopefully the new Suite) so that we can lap up all of the service and catering perks. This will include dinner in The Private room in SIN after our first flight.

This will take us another half a day to reach LHR, but the fun of the flights will be maximised. We would get to LHR quicker by getting the late night flight in SIN, but they you are getting on the plane after midnight and one does not really want to eat or drink much then, and then when you wake up it is breakfast time. whereas flying SIN to LHR in daylight means that it is Krug all the way

 

[Dannyism]

Thanks all for the feedback. I'll have a good look at *A redemptions to extend to Barcelona or Madrid. Probably flying in and out of LHR is the best chance of maximising my odds of flying on the new suites. Not the end of the world if in the old suites I guess.

Seems like on the balance it is a good idea to book the flights in as there will be a modest chance at the new A380 suites. Whether an SQ award or *A award will depend on availability and pricing, but I will investigate both options.

 

[Danger UXB]

Approx how long does it take to refurb an A380? Assuming the 1st is done by end of March when would you expect the entire fleet (14??) to be done by?

Not sure they will be starting at the end of march. SQ are taking delivery of 5 new birds all with the new seating plan delivery starting between Nov 17 and March 18 depending which artivle you read. The 5 original birds will be sent back to whereever so that leaves 13 to refurb. They still havent finished refurbing all the 77W to include the 2013 J and F and Y seats and the 2016 PE seats so it could be a while....a long while.