SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Cruiser Elite]

So I had 100K+ Eastern Miles with MU as a result of a couple of 2K$ ret J MEL-PVG flts when MU first started flying into MEL + pts earned on dom MU flts in China - so I cashed 80K in to get o/w J ret MEL-PVG on Apr 12 dep 11am. MU J pax access QP but I called in to say hello to SQ staff and I find Lucky on front desk - 'Not flying with you today Lucky but going on pts with MU' I say - 'No problem' Lucky says - 'Come in here this is much better'.

Cannot disagree so spent the next 2hrs in SQ F instead QF J - can't beat anytime access into SQ F huh?

FWIW - MU J on brand new 33E such an ordinary experience - never again hopefully.

 

[cove]

I remember wondering if I was creating a monster points problem moving 7 in SQ Suites but so far the points stash has not run out.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You often see requests from posters asking about quality of Chinese Lounges - well let me tell you what SQ think of quality of *A Lounge on PVG - so bad are the F & B offerings that all SQ F and J pax are handed vouchers to partake in free F & B in Cafe Deco opp Gate 71 - Cafe Deco Group - Cafe Deco Shanghai Pudong Int'l Airport - you will handed separate menu to main menu and you select whatever you desire - and F side is actually quite good - small tapas type servings but good variety - B side bit limited - no champers - red wine was Chilean IIRC but it was drinkable as opposed to the Dynasty vinegar in *A Lounge.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Here is humdinger I have not heard before.

I had F Saver booked MEL-SIN-PVG SQ218/828 on May 19. Circumstances changed and I now need to fly tomorrow.

Yesterday I jump online and check availability - 218/828 showing J avail but F not - ok no biggie I gotta get there so I change booking - refund details show USD29.40 for F to J downgrade but no pts refund - just a glitch I thought and would call today when I had chance.

So I call KF this morn - rep informs me that if pax indeed goes online to modify booking and does online downgrade F to J or J to Y then $$s are funded but pts difference is forfeited - in this case 17K KF pts.

BUT

If you call KF centre and get them to cancel original booking they will refund ALL fees paid (less cancel fee) plus ALL pts paid - you then go make new booking and pay the going rate in $$s and pts.

In essence you are penalised for 'self service' cancellation but not penalised for 'full service' cancellation - am I being irrational in not quite understanding the logic here?

 

[hummel]

Here is humdinger I have not heard before.

I had F Saver booked MEL-SIN-PVG SQ218/828 on May 19. Circumstances changed and I now need to fly tomorrow.

Yesterday I jump online and check availability - 218/828 showing J avail but F not - ok no biggie I gotta get there so I change booking - refund details show USD29.40 for F to J downgrade but no pts refund - just a glitch I thought and would call today when I had chance.

So I call KF this morn - rep informs me that if pax indeed goes online to modify booking and does online downgrade F to J or J to Y then $$s are funded but pts difference is forfeited - in this case 17K KF pts.

BUT

If you call KF centre and get them to cancel original booking they will refund ALL fees paid (less cancel fee) plus ALL pts paid - you then go make new booking and pay the going rate in $$s and pts.

In essence you are penalised for 'self service' cancellation but not penalised for 'full service' cancellation - am I being irrational in not quite understanding the logic here?

Sounds like SQ's IT system has merged with VA's. Make's no sense but that's the way it is.

Should be used to it cruiser... after all.. you're doing business in China.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sounds like SQ's IT system has merged with VA's. Make's no sense but that's the way it is.

Should be used to it cruiser... after all.. you're doing business in China.

Still a chance I will get them back as I demanded to speak to Manager who has sent off special request to get pts refunded - he is also trying to free up an F seat for the flts - if that happens prob goes away - but still info everyone will now be armed with going forward.

 

[Danger UXB]

Here is humdinger I have not heard before.

I had F Saver booked MEL-SIN-PVG SQ218/828 on May 19. Circumstances changed and I now need to fly tomorrow.

Yesterday I jump online and check availability - 218/828 showing J avail but F not - ok no biggie I gotta get there so I change booking - refund details show USD29.40 for F to J downgrade but no pts refund - just a glitch I thought and would call today when I had chance.

So I call KF this morn - rep informs me that if pax indeed goes online to modify booking and does online downgrade F to J or J to Y then $$s are funded but pts difference is forfeited - in this case 17K KF pts.

BUT

If you call KF centre and get them to cancel original booking they will refund ALL fees paid (less cancel fee) plus ALL pts paid - you then go make new booking and pay the going rate in $$s and pts.

In essence you are penalised for 'self service' cancellation but not penalised for 'full service' cancellation - am I being irrational in not quite understanding the logic here?

Cruiser how much is the cancellation fee and is it worth the 17K points? $50 US from memory?
Similar thing happened to me a few months back. Upgraded Mrs UXB from J to F using "self serve" on the web site. Paid the small increase in fees but the extra 31K of points still remain in my account!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

US$30 I believe.

 

[penegal]

In essence you are penalised for 'self service' cancellation but not penalised for 'full service' cancellation - am I being irrational in not quite understanding the logic here?

It is ridiculous... and the website is cough.

As much as I hate talking on the phone I manage most of my SQ bookings over the phone, simply because it is easier. I do my initial transaction over the net to get the CC bonus points and/or 15% discount, but then call to "fix" it.



OT: I hate businesses that penalise people for transacting online... They should be encouraging you to transact online. Movie Cinemas are the worst - $1 booking fee per ticket to use their website, but no booking fee to wait in line and have a pimply faced 17 year old try to charge you the wrong amount... At least they are creating jobs for 17 year olds, I guess?...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Currently ensconced in SQ F in MEL - could not get F Saver released so have to slum it in J - still the anytime access of SQ F Lounge does soften the blow a bit.

Had Lounge to myself until 5 mins ago - still sharing is caring right?

 

[cove]

Well I am convinced I should call to handle the mixed class flights for PERTH to London or Los Angeles instead of using on line.

 

[cfellows]

As long as you do the initial booking online for the 15% + CC bonus points, I would call to make sure everything is done right and on the record. I'm dreading making a paid return ticket + adding infant seat as a one-way + linking it to a one-way redemption soon. I hope the call center dragons show mercy

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Gotta admit that new smaller condensed version of KrisWorld magazine is nothing short of cough - even SQ are caught up in the 'enhancement' cycle.

And who has used the new headsets? Experienced them in J this week - never seen them in F - just felt weird first experience - I think audio was pretty good but what would I know. I did have some pics but cannot find them right now

 

[hummel]

Gotta admit that new smaller condensed version of KrisWorld magazine is nothing short of cough - even SQ are caught up in the 'enhancement' cycle.

And who has used the new headsets? Experienced them in J this week - never seen them in F - just felt weird first experience - I think audio was pretty good but what would I know. I did have some pics but cannot find them right now

The noise cancelling headsets? Had them in J this week.. found them pretty lacklustre, so used my NoiseHush i7's.

Side note: Flew A380 J out of Sydney last week... wow it's looking dated! Then I flew 777 2-2-2 J to MEL yesterday... was a pretty old bird with the very old Krisworld system. SIN-CAN leg's were great in new A330's but really thought the other leg's weren't so great.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The noise cancelling headsets? Had them in J this week.. found them pretty lacklustre, so used my NoiseHush i7's.

There are some new head phones introduced couple of months back - I think the old ones were Bose were they not? These new ones sit against your ear rather than over your ear - cannot find pics or remember the name - Piadet or something I think.

 

[hummel]

There are some new head phones introduced couple of months back - I think the old ones were Bose were they not? These new ones sit against your ear rather than over your ear - cannot find pics or remember the name - Piadet or something I think.

Yeah that's the one I had. It did indeed start with P... and sat against the ear. Was pretty ordinary.

It always surprised me how many flyers in J/F don't have their own headsets, flying with a half decent set has made my flights so much more tolerable.

 

[mel-world]

SQ 238 Saturday 24 May - MEL-SIN - Catering, 11F and Changi on a Saturday afternoon - a mild rant

As someone who has been a TPPS for 14 years, it is not often I complain about SQ but yesterday's flight was way below expectations. The crew gave me their normal attentive service and were most apologetic when I made comment of the food offered. I almost took up the offer of 'lobster from First'; in retrospect, I wish I had.

I'll get to the catering in a moment. I generally like the bulkhead row when flying but forgot this flight was on a 777-300A - there are so many changes out of MEL, it is difficult to keep up sometimes. If you have seat 11D/11f on this aircraft, be prepared to have half of Economy walk over your toes while boarding unless you can persuade to crew to send them via the galley and then have the J pax interrupt your movie viewing on their way to/from the toilets. A lesson learned - I have just moved myself on my next flight on this aircraft type.

The lunch and snack catering was the worst I have ever encountered in SQ, as far as I can remember. The starter was a duck patte and confit - I think - anyway, it was dry and not something I would eat in any circumstances. Okay, I thought; the lamb would be better - I have had it often before. No, it was dry and tough and while not raw, it was certainly not cooked through - either in the pre-cooking phase or during the on-board heating. Sort of like trying to eat cardboard. Even sending it back would not have improved the quality. The J cabin was full so not a lot of other choices available. The snack service was a roll or Nasi Lemak - I thought the second choice would have been more substantial and it was but much too spicy for my old stomach -I guess I cannot blame SQ for that.

To end a rather forgetful day, the taxi queue at the far end of T2 around 1600 on a Saturday was over an hour long. It took all the roped off area and then some 20 mtrs. more. I guess a mixture of Saturday and shift change. I walked back and got a $55 Mercedes into town after a short 10-min wait.

On the plus side, it is a beautiful Sunday in Singapore today - there was nobody out walking at 0700 around Marina Bay and the Conrad is a great hotel. My past favourite, the Shangri La is just getting too expensive and full of upmarket tour groups of late.

Mind rant over....

 

[albatross710]

SQ 238 Saturday 24 May - MEL-SIN - Catering, 11F and Changi on a Saturday afternoon - a mild rant

Some travel days are like that.

I love the Conrad, the beds are so high. They still giving teddy bears on your pillow?

 

[Happy Trails]

I did SYD-SIN today, my first time in an SQ suite.
Towards the end of the flight, as I passed through the galley en route to the conveniences, I was asked "would you like another drink?"
I declined but, on second thoughts emerging from the dunny I did ask for another sparkling water.
"Mr HT, it's already waiting at your seat."
Sure enough it was, plus an unbidden XO Cognac.
Now that's downright spooky.

Addendum:
I left a book behind somewhere, aircraft / lounge, I'm not sure.
Anyway, I got a beep on boarding my next flight; there was my book and I hadn't even missed it.

 

[mitwg]

I think offering drinks at the galley is fantastic customer service but I personally hate it

I drink a lot of fluids every day so this habit continues while flying, and I go to the loo fairly frequently (say 4-5 times during an average SYD-SIN) and each time I would get asked 'Mr xx_, would you like a drink?'

I understand that they are just doing their job but I almost always feel sorry for saying 'no' too many times and eventually cave in and take up on the drinks offer, which causes an additional loo trip down the track. Then the cycle repeats endlessly.