SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[love_the_life]

I am interested to hear of anyone who has flown SQ recently especially in J or F. Have heard some reports about a degradation in service on board, catering etc. Looking at a short trip to SIN in mid year. As it will be a revenue (ie paid) trip not really keen on forking out for F if the soft product has gone off. All comments gratefully received.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I am doing SQ J on Wednesday. First time so cannot compare to the past, but I can upload the menu & BTC options from MMB tonight/tomorrow morning if it helps.

 

[Ken1]

I am doing SQ J on Wednesday. First time so cannot compare to the past, but I can upload the menu & BTC options from MMB tonight/tomorrow morning if it helps.

We've recently booked to fly SYD-LHR in J for next February and this will be our first time flying SQ. We would be very interested in seeing menu & BTC items if you can upload them. Thanks Must...Fly!

 

[Peasant]

I am interested to hear of anyone who has flown SQ recently especially in J or F. Have heard some reports about a degradation in service on board, catering etc. Looking at a short trip to SIN in mid year. As it will be a revenue (ie paid) trip not really keen on forking out for F if the soft product has gone off. All comments gratefully received.

I can't speak for F as I usually travel in J and haven't flown F since 2019, but generally SQ remains pretty good. There's a consistency to the experience and service flow that few other airlines can emulate. Crew are well trained, courteous and generally attentive. I think that's still the case, though the latest COVID-19 service protocol is for crew to try to minimise interactions with passengers. Don't worry, your wine or champagne will be proactively topped up and they'll usually show enthusiasm and professionalism.

But people who have been flying SQ every month for many years will tell you that it's not quite up to previous standards. There's no pre-departure drink, you won't get a hot towel, nor will you get a printed menu. You won't get warmed nuts after take off. And you'll notice there are fewer BTC options as well as fewer options onboard. Some might say the options are less interesting than before, with an increased emphasis on showcasing Singapore's hawker cuisine. Portions are clearly smaller than pre-covid and maybe not as well presented. The cheese trolley is gone and replaced with pretty basic cheese and crackers.

Wines and champagnes remain good, with at least one Australian red, chardonnay and fortified. There's usually a NZ Sauv Blanc if that's your thing, and they've had some interesting Bordeauxs that remain a constant feature.

Will you be wowed by the in-flight F&B experience? Probably not, the small cuts to multiple dimensions are enough to take SQ from being among the best in the business to the mid tier, but there's always a bit of luck associated with the day, route and caterer on the day you travel and of course what you choose to eat.

Post automatically merged: Feb 26, 2022

As a side note, the removal of printed menus makes it very easy to get a sample of what you'll be eating onboard. Try inflightmenu.singaporeair.com

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not onboard F again until Mar 31 So cannot help now but I will give live report as I do fly.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We've recently booked to fly SYD-LHR in J for next February and this will be our first time flying SQ. We would be very interested in seeing menu & BTC items if you can upload them. Thanks Must...Fly!

While regularly looking at Saver award availability being released for various Europe to SYD routes like ZRH-SYD, AMS-SYD, LHR-SYD on some days I only see availability with flights that only have a layover time in SIN of 1hr, 1hr05 or 1hr10, and on SYD-LHR I even see a 50 min layover time. Since SQ offers these short layover times in SIN does this mean that they can usually handle transferring luggage between flights in these short time frames? I would prefer to have longer times in SIN between flights but if the only offering on the date we will need is one of these short connecting times would you consider booking it?

Book the cook options are available on line now: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/flying-withus/dining/book-the-cook/

Airlines won't offer, or allow you to book, connections that they can't get you and your bags from one flight to another. All of those times are plenty to complete the actual transfer in Singapore.... of course you may want longer to have a shower or go duty free shopping. But in terms of connection time, no need to worry.

 

[love_the_life]

Not onboard F again until Mar 31 So cannot help now but I will give live report as I do fly.

I will look forward to hearing what you think as you have a long history with SQ and will know how it is stacking up these days. Thanks.

 

[Ken1]

Book the cook options are available on line now: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/flying-withus/dining/book-the-cook/

Airlines won't offer, or allow you to book, connection that they can't get you and your bags from one flight to another. All of those times are plenty to complete the actual transfer in Singapore.... of course you may want longer to have a shower or go duty free shopping. But in terms of connection time, no need to worry.

Thanks MEL-Traveller. Yes we would prefer to have longer to be able to enjoy the lounge and have a shower but I had been wondering about the short connection times being listed if that is the only choice available when we are ready to book.

 

[Ken1]

We've been watching YouTube videos and reading about J seats on SQ A380s and about the sleeping at an angle that is mentioned as being uncomfortable for a lot of people in most seats, except the bulk head seats in rows 11, 91 and 96. I usually sleep on my right side and am trying to work out by looking at photos if it would be better to select A or K seats for the most comfortable sleeping position if the way the direction you have to lie down makes a difference.

Also is the smaller cabin with rows 91 to 95 preferred over the larger cabin with rows 11 to 24? When I go to select seats for our SYD-LHR flights the bulk head rows 11, 91 and 96 are greyed out so I'm guessing they are blocked until closer to the flight date. Do you have to wait until OLCI opens 48 hours the flight before they open up. Do they open up any earlier for KF EG members? I am now EG thanks to transferring Amex points to KF.

 

[N860CR]

I recently flew with them from Sydney to Cape Town and back. It was fine. But the “Singapore difference” is gone. To be honest, it’s the first time that I’ve considered that maybe the qantas flight would have been a better option. I can’t really pinpoint it… but something was just off.

Doing it again in 2 weeks so we’ll see if it’s improved now that Singapore has normalized things a bit.

On the plus side, they’ve expanded book the cook a little so you can actually preselect both meals on the SIN-JNB sector. I’ve picked the lobster twice on the assumption I’ll sleep through one of them.

 

[Peasant]

We've been watching YouTube videos and reading about J seats on SQ A380s and about the sleeping at an angle that is mentioned as being uncomfortable for a lot of people in most seats, except the bulk head seats in rows 11, 91 and 96. I usually sleep on my right side and am trying to work out by looking at photos if it would be better to select A or K seats for the most comfortable sleeping position if the way the direction you have to lie down makes a difference.

On the new 380 I personally don't notice a huge difference between having the bulkhead and other standard seats. It's not as transformational as on the older 380, 350 and B77Ws.

The double beds in the centre bulkheads might be nice for some, but we generally favour the single seaters rather than sitting in the centre! Not sure how easy it is to get these for non-PPS, however, which probably explains why this is greyed out for now.

 

[Ken1]

On the new 380 I personally don't notice a huge difference between having the bulkhead and other standard seats. It's not as transformational as on the older 380, 350 and B77Ws.

The double beds in the centre bulkheads might be nice for some, but we generally favour the single seaters rather than sitting in the centre! Not sure how easy it is to get these for non-PPS, however, which probably explains why this is greyed out for now.

Thanks Peasant. We haven’t flown with SQ before but have flown with QF, BA and CX in J several times each on several different aircraft types but haven’t experienced the SQ angled small area to put your feet while sleeping that we’ve read about.

 

[albyd]

I'm sorry if this is covered already in this thread and I've missed it. I have redemption travel in August. SQ changed our flights so on the return, we have 24 hour layover. As much as I like the SQ lounged and Changi, interspersed with the airport hotel, I'd like to go to the city for the day and stay in a hotel there.

Will I be able to leave Changi or am I "stuck" there for 24 hours?

I've been on hold for several hours and suspect the call will terminate before I get through. Figured the brains trust on AFF would be better able to help me at this time.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[sudoer]

Will I be able to leave Changi or am I "stuck" there for 24 hours?

By August you will probably be able to leave. If you were to go right now, I believe you need a test on arrival and a hotel room to isolate at until your result comes back.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sorry if this is covered already in this thread and I've missed it. I have redemption travel in August. SQ changed our flights so on the return, we have 24 hour layover. As much as I like the SQ lounged and Changi, interspersed with the airport hotel, I'd like to go to the city for the day and stay in a hotel there.

Will I be able to leave Changi or am I "stuck" there for 24 hours?

I've been on hold for several hours and suspect the call will terminate before I get through. Figured the brains trust on AFF would be better able to help me at this time.

Thanks in advance for your help

All depends on the covid rules at the time. Generally speaking you’re able to leave the terminal and enter singapore for any length of time… could be an hour to go shopping or get a meal.

But… who knows what rules will be in place if there’s another outbreak, or arrivals from certain countries are restricted from entering.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We've been watching YouTube videos and reading about J seats on SQ A380s and about the sleeping at an angle that is mentioned as being uncomfortable for a lot of people in most seats, except the bulk head seats in rows 11, 91 and 96. I usually sleep on my right side and am trying to work out by looking at photos if it would be better to select A or K seats for the most comfortable sleeping position if the way the direction you have to lie down makes a difference.

Also is the smaller cabin with rows 91 to 95 preferred over the larger cabin with rows 11 to 24? When I go to select seats for our SYD-LHR flights the bulk head rows 11, 91 and 96 are greyed out so I'm guessing they are blocked until closer to the flight date. Do you have to wait until OLCI opens 48 hours the flight before they open up. Do they open up any earlier for KF EG members? I am now EG thanks to transferring Amex points to KF.

If you’re at a bulkhead there’s no foot cubby, so pick the K seat if you sleep on your right side. You’ll then be facing the wall when sleeping.

I’ve seen bulkhead open at different times for selection, I have no status. I usually check once a week or whatever to see if anything has opened up. But otherwise at OLCI.

 

[Matt_01]

Also is the smaller cabin with rows 91 to 95 preferred over the larger cabin with rows 11 to 24? When I go to select seats for our SYD-LHR flights the bulk head rows 11, 91 and 96 are greyed out so I'm guessing they are blocked until closer to the flight date. Do you have to wait until OLCI opens 48 hours the flight before they open up. Do they open up any earlier for KF EG members? I am now EG thanks to transferring Amex points to KF.

R11 is always blocked for PPS and Solitaire same on every flight and aircraft type. Other baulk seats are blocked for status pax or are bassinet seats. From memory all seats will become available at T-96 or T-48 depending on the route. KF SG is an alignment to *G, status with benefits within the SQ/KF system starts at PPS which is based on dollars spent with SQ.

 

[SYD]

By August you will probably be able to leave. If you were to go right now, I believe you need a test on arrival and a hotel room to isolate at until your result comes back.

RAT test on arrival now. Things are moving fast (and for the better). Let’s hope it stays that way!

 

[albyd]

RAT test on arrival now. Things are moving fast (and for the better). Let’s hope it stays that way!

Thanks for the various replies much appreciated. I think I’ll book a hotel in the city. Redemption bookings are fully flexible so that will help.

Also, I’m traveling with my elderly mother. She’s too old to be covered by credit card insurance. Is there any insurance which you might recommend I have a look at which might suit? She’s 84.

 

[mel-world]

I have found this website is regularly updated and contains clear information for all countries. The rules did change significantly on Tuesday last week, 22 February.

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