SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Dannyism]

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.

Good point. Very good point.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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.

Ok, understood.

Though that would $$$ wise be a double wammy as you would add on the Fuel Fines and the UK Air Passenger Duty (which is more in J&F).

From Spain I would for *A more likely route back via ZRH, FRA or MUN to save $$$ and also time as one will have less backtracking.

New Suites would not make it worthwhile enough for me. Plus one may not get the right A380 anyway...and FRA or ZRH may still possibly have it anyway.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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.

You can call up SQ to check what the total fees are for various *A options.

I just did that recently to book not just my and my wife's Suites to Europe, but also for 2 daughters to Italy return.

For my flights we ended up booking SQ award to LHR as we wanted to star in London and was not worth the hassle to start elsewhere. We as posted earlier are coming back on *A as it was a lot more open which city we could fly out of.

For my daughters I was trying to book *A in J . Partly to save points, but also to try and fly out of say Florence.

BUT via the Krysflyer call centre could not get any availability from FRA, MUN or ZRH. Basically it is peak season (Germans seeking beaches etc as it is summer!) and all the redemptions on LH etc had already been snapped up by members of those airlines and there were no seats available and according to the CSR there would be none for some months. I could have gained by other routes (decided against all the extra time involved) or on Thai (decided that my daughters would have fun on SQ rather than Thai metal).

I will book this in for late August returning early September 2018.

And yes having done your homework now will mean that you will be ready to pounce as soon as availability opens, which being peak season you will need to be as you will have most likely a lot of competition.

Note that on SQ metal that the flights with Suites will often sell out before the flights with F.

Happy Hunting!

 

[BacchusMarsh]

maximising my odds of flying on the new suites.

I think your proposed timing is pretty good. Once there's more certainty as to when and where they'll be flying, award availability is almost certain to become more difficult.

A non-negligible chunk of my travel spend for any given year is cancellation fees, which I view as a kind of insurance premium. Krisflyer is really quite cheap in that regard.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Once there's more certainty as to when and where they'll be flying, award availability is almost certain to become more difficult.

Fully agree. Whichever flights get announced early on are likely to get hammered.

A route that may say have two A380 per day will see many trying to grab the new suite flight, plus others will try and fly that route just to experience the new suites.

A non-negligible chunk of my travel spend for any given year is cancellation fees, which I view as a kind of insurance premium. Krisflyer is really quite cheap in that regard.

I also do this a little. Sometimes if I have missed out on my "best"" option I might book what I can get, and if availability opens on what I would prefer then book that and cancel the first booking (ie where the route is different and so it cannot just be transferred).

I have also sometimes had to book *A as there was no SQ availability and waitlisted the SQ prepared to cancel the *A if it opened up (admittedly back under the old award chart with 15% online discount).

 

[get me outta here]

Just wondering what will be the extra costs ... I have SYD - FRA - JFK straight through in F next year. Just added a WL for SYD-SIN a day earlier. If it clears there's USD100 for the stopover, but not sure of approx other extras though.

 

[Kangol]

For those interested in reading about speculative suites bookings:
How to try SQ’s new A380 suites, a.k.a A380 roulette | The MileLion
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/08/14/singapore-new-suites-class-first-route/

 

[geoffb78]

Hi

Does anyone understand the routing rules for SQ redemption flights? I am contemplating flying SIN-SYD but using ANA and routing via Tokyo (NH844/NH879). Would this be permitted for the same points cost as SIN-SYD directly (58,000 miles one-way for saver award)?

Thanks

Geoff.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

For those interested in reading about speculative suites bookings:
How to try SQ’s new A380 suites, a.k.a A380 roulette | The MileLion
Singapore's New A380 Suites Class: What Will The First Route Be? - One Mile at a Time

Yes he sources that from Flyertalk and was what I was referring to in the new Suites Thread on this forum.

 

[desafinado74]

Good morning SQ community,
I will be flying in J class from MEL to LHR, and F class from LHR to MEL in June / July 2018 (It will be my first time flying in premium class with SQ)
Out of curiosity, in each flight, are we restricted in how much we can eat ? I know there is one entree/ main meal / dessert (and one breakfast for some flights)
but if we want to eat more, are we allowed to order more food ?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Good morning SQ community,
I will be flying in J class from MEL to LHR, and F class from LHR to MEL in June / July 2018 (It will be my first time flying in premium class with SQ)
Out of curiosity, in each flight, are we restricted in how much we can eat ? I know there is one entree/ main meal / dessert (and one breakfast for some flights)
but if we want to eat more, are we allowed to order more food ?

As the meals are served in courses there is normally ample food at meal time. Indeed I normally try and not eat all of every course as I simply do not need all that food. Particularly as one can also eat in the lounges.

However if you are still hungry beyond the scheduled meals, there is a light meal menu that you can select from in addition to snacks like crisps, nuts, biscuits etc.

In short, you will not go hungry on a SQ flight in J or F.

 

[dajop]

However if you are still hungry beyond the schedule meals, there is a snack meal menu that you can select from in addition to things like crisps, biscuits etc.

The snack menu on the LHR flight also includes noodles, sandwiches etc. I agree though, the main problem is too much food, not the other way around. Especially in F.

desinado74, what flights are you on? There is some variation in meals depending on time of day, for example the midnight flights between SIN & MEL in both directions (SQ 237 and SQ 218) do have a reduced service.

 

[desafinado74]

Thank you for the replies Dajop and lovetravellingoz. It is great to know that there is more than enough food
Dajop, my J class flights from MEL to LHR are all day flights. The Suites flight departs LHR on 925am. The only night flight is the SIN to MEL F class one, departing SIN on 915pm. Hopefully with this flight, i can still get the full meal service I also hope that my LHR to SIN flight (Suites )will not be swapped with a B777-300ER !

 

[firstclasser]

As the meals are served in courses there is normally ample food at meal time. Indeed I normally try and not eat all of every course as I simply do not need all that food. Particularly as one can also eat in the lounges.

However if you are still hungry beyond the scheduled meals, there is a light meal menu that you can select from in addition to snacks like crisps, nuts, biscuits etc.

In short, you will not go hungry on a SQ flight in J or F.

Is the caviar service offered in every long haul flight, or only for flights with a scheduled dinner service?
I have read only some people are offered the caviar, and some have even suggested you have to ask for it...is this correct?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you for the replies Dajop and lovetravellingoz. It is great to know that there is more than enough food
Dajop, my J class flights from MEL to LHR are all day flights. The Suites flight departs LHR on 925am. The only night flight is the SIN to MEL F class one, departing SIN on 915pm. Hopefully with this flight, i can still get the full meal service I also hope that my LHR to SIN flight (Suites )will not be swapped with a B777-300ER !

The answer to many of your questions could be found by googling 'Singapore airlines first class trip report' (or business class). You'll find a lot of information there, including the meals, menus and pictures of the portions. Plus all the things like amenities and lounges. it might help you get a feel for your flights.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thank you for the replies Dajop and lovetravellingoz. It is great to know that there is more than enough food
Dajop, my J class flights from MEL to LHR are all day flights. The Suites flight departs LHR on 925am.

My next Suites to Europe is that flight too. I am getting in the afternoon the day prior and will have dinner and breakfast in The Private Room, but will overnight at the Crowne Plaza.

The flight is schedules for breakfast and lunch. But I will instead adjust my body clock to the UK by treating my meals as lunch and dinner (Breakfast in TPR).

To do this I will order instead of one of the western breakfast options say the Kyo-Kaiseki

The only night flight is the SIN to MEL F class one, departing SIN on 915pm. Hopefully with this flight, i can still get the full meal service I also hope that my LHR to SIN flight (Suites )will not be swapped with a B777-300ER !

I do not know when you arrive at SIN, but if you get there early enough rather than having dinner at 10pm I personally would have dinner in The Private Room and not worry about dinner on the plane. Well maybe just dessert.

My Suites back from Europe next July will see me doing exactly that.

 

[desafinado74]

My next Suites to Europe is that flight too. I am getting in the afternoon the day prior and will have dinner and breakfast in The Private Room, but will overnight at the Crowne Plaza.

The flight is schedules for breakfast and lunch. But I will instead adjust my body clock to the UK by treating my meals as lunch and dinner (Breakfast in TPR).

To do this I will order instead of one of the western breakfast options say the Kyo-Kaiseki



I do not know when you arrive at SIN, but if you get there early enough rather than having dinner at 10pm I personally would have dinner in The Private Room and not worry about dinner on the plane. Well maybe just dessert.

My Suites back from Europe next July will see me doing exactly that.

Sounds like a good plan I will be staying at Crowne Changi for 2 nights (Visiting some friends in Singapore) before continuing to LHR. The MEL to SIN flight will see me arriving just after midnight at 1215am. And my flight to LHR departs SIN on 1235pm 2 days later. On the journey back, it will be F / Suites class . Again, i will be staying in SIN for a few days before returning to MEL (Flight from SIN departs 915pm) Before this flight, i will definitely check out TPR and the food there. I hope you will have a happy and safe holiday (We might even be on the same flight, hoho)

 

[cove]

Make sure you are in the IHG loyalty program.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Make sure you are in the IHG loyalty program.

Gains free wifi.

However so far I have been able to book in cheaper by not booking direct. Amex Travel for the last two times has had better rates. Though no loyalty points this way.

 

[desafinado74]

Gains free wifi.

However so far I have been able to book in cheaper by not booking direct. Amex Travel for the last two times has had better rates. Though no loyalty points this way.

Hi Lovetravellingoz,

I am going to book Crowne Plaza via AMEX Travel too, since my AMEX Explorer card gives me the $400 travel credit.
If you book via AMEX Travel, will you get free wifi from the hotel too ?
I am an IHG Rewards member too by the way.