SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[flyingfan]

Just got back home after another great trip from LHR to MEL. I know we like to whinge sometimes on this forum (myself included) but while onboard I was thinking is there really another carrier who can provide such complete package in terms of hard and soft product? I doubt it. Oh and I was on the 777 this time, not the amazing 380.

Nice (and impressive pics)! I’ve only flown J in the 777 but more than happy - I couldn’t ever whinge about them, the service is exceptionally and consistently strong and I’m happy with the food. The seats look old world (like how I’d imagine a cigar lounge to be - I’d prefer modern) but that’s a minor thing.

 

[Quickstatus]

Nothing wrong with SQ777 F
And a lot to like
And sounds like the 777 crew are the better of the SQ long hauls...

 

[boomy]

Just got back home after another great trip from LHR to MEL. I know we like to whinge sometimes on this forum (myself included) but while onboard I was thinking is there really another carrier who can provide such complete package in terms of hard and soft product? I doubt it. Oh and I was on the 777 this time, not the amazing 380. The service was flawless and food was great, even the eye fillet was properly cooked medium rare which is a rare sight (pun intended ) in the air.

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Forgot to post a photo of the steak cut.



Almost perfect, if only they wouldn’t put sauce on it.

 

[Peasant]

Forgot to post a photo of the steak cut.

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Almost perfect, if only they wouldn’t put sauce on it.

Was that steak ex-LHR? I find the beef from London is consistently the best of any station and any airline.

 

[boomy]

Was that steak ex-LHR? I find the beef from London is consistently the best of any station and any airline.

Yes, Ex-LHR. Was very positively surprised by the quality.

Ex-SIN I normally order lobster, particularly after they took it off the menu at TPR.

 

[SOPOOR]

Heya folks. My undertsanding is that the firsy round of miles expiring since covid is end of july.
I have enough for about 3 round trips .
I already have something booked in early 2024

What sort of fees/costs am i up for changing a rewards booking with miles that will be expired at the time of flying? Is it just a $100 fee or something?

I have the option to give 2 flights to family members but they may not want it.
So my worst/best case i was thinking was to book 3 flights all for me as fsr as possible and then when it gets closer, to change it to another flight, hopefully i can make plans with

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I need to be in SH for a trade show May 5-8 - 1st time show has been open to foreigners since 2019 - but back then SQ had 6 or 7 daily flts in PVG route - currently 2 daily flts. Even with the restricted demand flts are totally full so getting rdpts nigh on impossible - here are my waitlists cancelled this morn for May 3-4 dep MEL / SYD / BNE / ADL:



Just impossible - and comm tix through the roof. I did get really lucky couple weeks back and secured VN J MEL-SGN-PVG May 3/4 for ~AUD2.5K then ret May 9/10 SQ J for ~AUD2.5K - go check ITA or GF and see what o/w or ret on MEL-PVG/PVG-MEL May 3 and May 10 are showing - would make your eyes water.

 

[TomVexille]

Looks like you'll have to fly CZ

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Nope - VN over / SQ back - don't be afraid to read the post Tommy

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just got back home after another great trip from LHR to MEL. I know we like to whinge sometimes on this forum (myself included) but while onboard I was thinking is there really another carrier who can provide such complete package in terms of hard and soft product? I doubt it.

To australia? Probably not. Elsewhere in the world… probably a couple, LH and AF F would be two that spring to mind.

CX and EK F would come close.

 

[MARTINE]

Thanks @boomy thats good to hear.
In two weeks I take off in J MEL-MAN and cannot wait. The 2hr transit in Changi just right and yesterday could not help myself as I cast my eye over the food offerings. Sooooo perb

 

[daft009]

Thanks @boomy thats good to hear.
In two weeks I take off in J MEL-MAN and cannot wait. The 2hr transit in Changi just right and yesterday could not help myself as I cast my eye over the food offerings. Sooooo perb

coughtails and the laksa in the silverkris lounge are the highlights for me

Was there last weekend

 

[Mr H]

Thanks @boomy thats good to hear.
In two weeks I take off in J MEL-MAN and cannot wait. The 2hr transit in Changi just right and yesterday could not help myself as I cast my eye over the food offerings. Sooooo perb

The food in SIN May be ok but the food on my flight from MEL next week looks very lacklustre.

 

[lovestotravel]

Just got back home after another great trip from LHR to MEL. I know we like to whinge sometimes on this forum (myself included) but while onboard I was thinking is there really another carrier who can provide such complete package in terms of hard and soft product? I doubt it. Oh and I was on the 777 this time, not the amazing 380. The service was flawless and food was great, even the eye fillet was properly cooked medium rare which is a rare sight (pun intended ) in the air.

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SQ F is great and to/from Australia is the best way you can fly

SQ J sadly is not the best anymore

 

[MEL_Traveller]

SQ F is great and to/from Australia is the best way you can fly

SQ J sadly is not the best anymore

Has the food improved in J? Towards the end of last year it was very disappointing. The second meal (snack) ex SIN into australia was some noodle dish which was poorly plated and dried out. The book cook main course (lobster) wasn’t much better (in fact the economy meal from coughet immediately before the J class to Australia was far far better.)

 

[lovestotravel]

Has the food improved in J? Towards the end of last year it was very disappointing. The second meal (snack) ex SIN into australia was some noodle dish which was poorly plated and dried out. The book cook main course (lobster) wasn’t much better (in fact the economy meal from coughet immediately before the J class to Australia was far far better.)

No J is still quite disapointing and my dislike for the A350 regional and crews doesn't help!

This post explains quite a bit, and why I've been underwhelmed with SQ J to/from Australia POST COVID

So...I probably know a little more than most about what's been going on here so I'll step in with a bit of a defence.

Without saying too much, SQ has had a lot of problems with their caterers. In Singapore, 80% of the staff at Sats left during the pandemic. For most, that meant permanently leaving Singapore, so they have had a lot of issues getting them back up to speed. It's been frustrating and explains why nearly all flights ex Singapore have operated the same menu. They have only fairly recently moved back into their own dedicated catering centre, next to T4.

Melbourne still seems to be adversely affected, but hopefully things are on the mend. They've had supply chain issues, their refrigerated transport provider went into liquidation and Dnata has had more staffing issues than Gate, who do the catering for Sydney.

You'll probably have noticed that for many months F and J ran the same menu (as pasted above). That's now been fixed - F moved to a dedicated menu on the 28th of March and J will migrate to a new menu in early May, which I'm told promises to be better.

So, I agree F&B has been a real weakness and tarnished our perception of the SQ product. That said, I've been given some assurances that things will soon improve and be back to former standards. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now, but the proof will be in the eating.

They are absolutely adamant that there is no cost cutting and their intention is to maintain pre-covid standards for all in-flight catering. The crew remain as excellent as ever, especially on the A380 and B777 subfleets.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No J is still quite disapointing and my dislike for the A350 regional and crews doesn't help!

So if SQ J hard and soft product is so bad you no doubt have changed carriers?

Dislike of SQ Crews? I’d openly suggest that says more about the pax than the actual crew

Personally I have never ever had a problem with any SQ Crew member or Crew in general - I just love their service etiquette

 

[lovestotravel]

Not everyone wants to creep out the crew though

 

[Quickstatus]

AF

I'm m just not keen on AF. Issues in Row 0...punch ups, opposite flight control inputs, etc etc

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And few who dislike an airlines hard and soft product still use them and jump on the internet and anonymously bag them - bravery in the extreme