SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[MEL_Traveller]

That is a very valid point, I guess I'll have to run this by the wife (cue the "wait, you don't want to sit next to me?" spiel that's probably stemming from this discussion)!

The afternoon flight ex SYD you can still dine together in the buddy seat, but may want to watch movies individually after that. The window seats are much nicer. Of course sleeping on the long haul a double bed makes sense

 

[NoName]

Just completed an award booking SYD-SIN-(FRA)-JFK for June next year, in the USA summer period.
Absolutely stoked that I was able to get 2 x Suites Saver confirmed without waitlisting, at what is probably the busiest time of year to head to the States. 334,000 KF + 320.18 AUD later, and the golden words "Redemption confirmed" appeared. Bliss ensued.

Would have preferred to book ex-MEL, however due to SQ ditching the A380 here in favour of the 777, getting 2 x Suite Savers ex-MEL effectively proves impossible!!

Booked 3C/D for Mrs. MN and I for the entire journey, I was contemplating booking 2C/D but given the time of travel there could be a higher than average chance that a couple with a baby could be on board so we didn't want to stuff around for the bassinet seats.

Thanks to all for the great tips, tricks and tales described here, I hope to put a TR together when the time comes.
View attachment 175945
We are hoping to visit the US in an East -> West direction so will most likely depart from LAX (could leave from SFO or SEA quite easily however the timings for LAX-SIN-MEL are incredible (leave LAX on Saturday early morning [just past midnight Friday night] and arrive in MEL on Sunday night at ~8:30pm, ready for work next morning!).

Wasn’t for Monday 29 June out of SIN was it? I monitor availability to JFK and usually 2 suites savers on a Monday but when I checked 90 min ago only waitlist.

 

[MathNerd]

The afternoon flight ex SYD you can still dine together in the buddy seat, but may want to watch movies individually after that. The window seats are much nicer. Of course sleeping on the long haul a double bed makes sense

Yes that's very true, especially as it's a day flight. Our only Suites experience was on SQ218, which travels through the darkness of the night so while the service was excellent from the crew, I've heard it's even better on a daytime flight. If there are window seats available on the day then we'll of course ask the crew if we can switch to those temporarily. Not too sure what loads are like on the SYD-SIN sector during that time of year but we'll see when the day rolls around (can't wait!)!

 

[MathNerd]

Wasn’t for Monday 29 June out of SIN was it? I monitor availability to JFK and usually 2 suites savers on a Monday but when I checked 90 min ago only waitlist.

That's correct. However my booking originated in SYD so I thought that availability ex-SIN wouldn't be affected (all that married-segment logic and all that jazz)? From your availability monitoring of the SIN-(FRA)-JFK route, am I correct in that they only release Saver redemptions for Suites on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays? That's what my amateur-sleuthing skills have uncovered; wondering if you have the same experience.

 

[NoName]

That's correct. However my booking originated in SYD so I thought that availability ex-SIN wouldn't be affected (all that married-segment logic and all that jazz)? From your availability monitoring of the SIN-(FRA)-JFK route, am I correct in that they only release Saver redemptions for Suites on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays? That's what my amateur-sleuthing skills have uncovered; wondering if you have the same experience.

Great! Good to know the reason for not seeing them today.

Yes Monday & Tuesday seem to have 2 Suites savers. Wednesday I haven’t seen much come up so may be hit and miss. Other days forget it for savers unless you waitlist.

 

[MathNerd]

Great! Good to know the reason for not seeing them today.

Yes Monday & Tuesday seem to have 2 Suites savers. Wednesday I haven’t seen much come up so may be hit and miss. Other days forget it for savers unless you waitlist.

Wow. That is indeed scarce availability, especially given the flight is on an "old bird" A380 with no near future plans to upgrade to the new A380 with only 6 Suites in them.

Any particular reason for monitoring this specific route? Are you planning on making the same redemption soon?

 

[NoName]

Any particular reason for monitoring this specific route? Are you planning on making the same redemption soon?

Planning a trip to Nth America for Dec 2020/Jan 2021 so want to see what my options are across a number of carriers so I can plan points acquisitions to ensure flexibility once booking time comes in approx 6 months. SQ to JFK is our preferred way of getting there with 2x Suites + 2x J.

Hoping new suites will be on that route by then as the fleet was supposed to be completed by end 2020 though I feel like the chances of this happening are getting smaller as time goes on.

 

[MathNerd]

Planning a trip to Nth America for Dec 2020/Jan 2021 so want to see what my options are across a number of carriers so I can plan points acquisitions to ensure flexibility once booking time comes in approx 6 months. SQ to JFK is our preferred way of getting there with 2x Suites + 2x J.

Hoping new suites will be on that route by then as the fleet was supposed to be completed by end 2020 though I feel like the chances of this happening are getting smaller as time goes on.

That's great planning and dedication. Good luck! I know the blood, sweat and tears do pay off, as was seen this morning

 

[daft009]

congrats @MathNerd
always seen thats a tough one to score!

return trip same way?

 

[MathNerd]

congrats @MathNerd
always seen thats a tough one to score!

return trip same way?

Thanks mate. We're planning on departing from the West coast, specifically LAX due to the excellent timing offered. If LAX doesn't work out we'll have to depart SFO or SEA. Don't really want to be heading back to JFK/EWR to depart from the East coast after travelling West!!

 

[NoName]

Thanks mate. We're planning on departing from the West coast, specifically LAX due to the excellent timing offered. If LAX doesn't work out we'll have to depart SFO or SEA. Don't really want to be heading back to JFK/EWR to depart from the East coast after travelling West!!

Much better availability from LAX compared to JFK I have found. Not sure if you’re looking at F or J but doubt you will have much problem provided you’re not leaving on a weekend.

Departing LAX or SFO on SQ is our 2nd preference should we not be able to get seats SIN-JFK and have to take a different carrier.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

2 x F Savers ex LAX - good luck with that!

 

[NoName]

2 x F Savers ex LAX - good luck with that!

Have seen 2 come up quite often on a Monday or Tuesday. Haven’t been looking the last few weeks on this route but that was my experience previously. May have changed of course.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I thought it had gotten nigh on impossible with the reduction in R / F capacity on SIN-LAX-SIN route? Last Sept I was trying for 1 x F Saver LAX-SIN and just a no go.

Only 4 F seats daily on that route now isn’t there? Used to be 20 R / F I think at one time SIN to LAX daily with ICN in the mix also - cove prolly best knowledge of this.

 

[NoName]

I can only speak from my experience monitoring these routes since maybe December last year (TO east coast currently continuing and FROM west coast up until maybe a month ago) but what I was finding was for LAX Monday and Tuesday departures I could see 1 F saver almost all the time and 2 probably half the time. I do note that you can only waitlist for the Monday that was released this morning so perhaps this has changed.

Also I was checking right after 10am EST so possible that anything released is being snapped up almost immediately and any redemption would need to be made in the first hour or so after release.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I am currently sitting in MU lounge in PVG awaiting flt back to MEL - but it’s not on SQ - first time in maybe 10 years I have not been able to secure R, F or J Saver within couple days of dep - had to but comm tix on CX J at 1/2 price SQ.

Every seat in F and J on every flt except midnight flt ex PVG-SIN-MEL today occupied - MEL- SIN leadings have been same lately too - PITA having to cross to the dark side!

As with all International lounges breakfast offerings around the clock - the rolls and buns I get but the bread has me a tad confused?

 

[SOPOOR]

any reason in particular why this route is so popular?

is the best way to get them upon release or get on the waitlist and hope like hell?

 

[daft009]

think it would be because of school holidays imo.
in VIC holidays finish coming weekend on 14/07.
NSW has all of next week as well

 

[daft009]

I was looking at flights to DEL for July, back in March.
Managed to find PE on the way there, only Y on the return for my folks

 

[MathNerd]

2 x F Savers ex LAX - good luck with that!

I thought it had gotten nigh on impossible with the reduction in R / F capacity on SIN-LAX-SIN route? Last Sept I was trying for 1 x F Saver LAX-SIN and just a no go.

Only 4 F seats daily on that route now isn’t there? Used to be 20 R / F I think at one time SIN to LAX daily with ICN in the mix also - cove prolly best knowledge of this.

Sorry I should've specified previously - having burnt through the majority of my KF miles with this redemption, I have only circa ~220,000 KF left, enough for... Well nothing premium ex-USA.
So I plan on transferring ~40,000 MR from AmEx to top up KF by ~20,000 to ~240,000, enough for 2 x J Savers LAX-SIN-MEL. Plenty good for our purposes, AUS-USA in Suites and USA-AUS in Business is definitely better than Economy for any part of those journeys.

It will take a number of years to get my KF balance up to that required for more Suites / Business redemptions, so will have to make it count now while I've got the chance!