SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Happy Dude]

Because as soon as you permit that flexibility, employees will become experts at sniffing out the flights that have J priced cheaper than Y and scheduling trips around that.

Terrific and should be applauded. Saves company money and shows initiative. As long as the judicious scheduling doesn't impact performance.

 

[JessicaTam]

Terrific and should be applauded. Saves company money and shows initiative. As long as the judicious scheduling doesn't impact performance.

But that flight that has J cheaper than Y might be the most expensive Y on the day, therefore actually costing the business more.

 

[luckypierre]

But that flight that has J cheaper than Y might be the most expensive Y on the day, therefore actually costing the business more.

Of course the large corporate accounts do receive discounts that we individuals will never see

 

[Mr H]

If a company has a policy of employees flying in Y, then it needs to stick to it. If you allow one person to fly J, however compelling the reasons, then everyone else will also demand the right to fly in J. What might be a one-off situation where J is cheaper than Y could lead to perverse behaviour by others to try to replicate the situation - trying to book as late as possible or contriving reasons why a particular flight is business-necessary when other flights would have done just as well. It might even encourage employees to undertake unnecessary travel. IMO, the company would come out ahead in the long run if it sticks to its policy even when, occasionally, an individual flight might end up being slightly more expensive.

 

[dajop]

TBH, it's exceedingly rare that J travel is cheaper than Y on the exact same flights, especially on SQ (which happens to be the topic on thread). Yes, sometimes quirks happen when Y is almost full and J is empty (such as around holiday times). What isn't rare is that J on carrier B is cheaper than Y on carrier A (e.g. SQ), but then no-one dares look at Y pricing on carrier B ....

 

[Happy Dude]

But that flight that has J cheaper than Y might be the most expensive Y on the day, therefore actually costing the business more.

Well yes I'm sure you can extrapolate the scenario to the nth degree and get to that. As I said, as long as it doesn't affect performance.

 

[Mr H]

Well yes I'm sure you can extrapolate the scenario to the nth degree and get to that. As I said, as long as it doesn't affect performance.

Travel - especially unnecessary travel or luxurious travel - can quickly have an impact on the bottom line - especially if it makes others envious.

 

[Peasant]

Forgive me father for I have sinned ..................... I have crossed across to the dark side - I need to be in PEK on or about Oct 6 and leave PVG on or about Oct 14 and not a sniff of SQ rdpt inventory - so comm tix:

SQ J - MEL-SIN-PEK/PVG-SIN-MEL Oct 06/Oct 14 - $13.2K
CX J - MEL-HKG-PEK/PVG-HKG-MEL Oct 05/Oct 13 - $6.6K

UFB

I’ve had many similar experiences recently, cruiser. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to be onboard SQ, it’s just that they’ve been twice the price in many instances. Or completely full. Cathay post covid is solid, but I think SQ has extended its lead in some respects.

 

[SOPOOR]

another question for the experts, im potentially looking at a flight from Melb to CDG on this coming Monday! I dont know if the fact that flights are availabe at all is once a in a million , or this is normal?

It appears only premium economy is avaialable, which has no lounge access, I guess I could pay for a 24 hour access at one of the lounges if my stop over is long, eg 12 hours (edit: ive just seen the lounge prices, $200+ for 10 hours! wow thats expensive), what other options would I have?

 

[Mr H]

another question for the experts, im potentially looking at a flight from Melb to CDG on this coming Monday! I dont know if the fact that flights are availabe at all is once a in a million , or this is normal?

It appears only premium economy is avaialable, which has no lounge access, I guess I could pay for a 24 hour access at one of the lounges if my stop over is long, eg 12 hours (edit: ive just seen the lounge prices, $200+ for 10 hours! wow thats expensive), what other options would I have?

You could land in SIN and get a hotel if it's overnight or explore the city if it's daytime.

 

[SOPOOR]

You could land in SIN and get a hotel if it's overnight or explore the city if it's daytime.

ive been to singapore a few times, but i suppose leaving for the city isnt a bad idea.........i hope im not getting old in feeling that I cant be bothered going through and back customs

 

[daft009]

ive been to singapore a few times, but i suppose leaving for the city isnt a bad idea.........i hope im not getting old in feeling that I cant be bothered going through and back customs

You can use the auto gates now so painless. Just do the sgac beforehand

 

[SOPOOR]

another question for the experts, im potentially looking at a flight from Melb to CDG on this coming Monday! I dont know if the fact that flights are availabe at all is once a in a million , or this is normal?

It appears only premium economy is avaialable, which has no lounge access, I guess I could pay for a 24 hour access at one of the lounges if my stop over is long, eg 12 hours (edit: ive just seen the lounge prices, $200+ for 10 hours! wow thats expensive), what other options would I have?

Hey folks. Wondering if i could the experts opinion?. As of now there are heaps of flights from melb to cdg this week on promo saver/advantage.

Is this normal for like last minute flights to be avaialble??? As people talk a lot about avaialbility disappearing on the release date 1 year in advancw

Im in two minds because i have a potential car sale, and family issues to deal with that are holding me back.

Trying to work out if im in a "lucky" flight situation

 

[Mr H]

Hey folks. Wondering if i could the experts opinion?. As of now there are heaps of flights from melb to cdg this week on promo saver/advantage.

Is this normal for like last minute flights to be avaialble??? As people talk a lot about avaialbility disappearing on the release date 1 year in advancw

Im in two minds because i have a potential car sale, and family issues to deal with that are holding me back.

Trying to work out if im in a "lucky" flight situation

My experience is that with airline redemptions you should never expect that availability today will be reflected in availability next week. Things change with the wind, usually without warning, and seldom for the better.

 

[SOPOOR]

My experience is that with airline redemptions you should never expect that availability today will be reflected in availability next week. Things change with the wind, usually without warning, and seldom for the better.

yes I get what you are saying, and I dont even rely on waitlists clearing, as im quite skeptical of them clearning,
however, im just thinking, where people are reporting flight unavailability a year in advance, is the fact that flights are availble for tomorrow, a one in a million ?

 

[burmans]

No, a year out is only one of the options, a number of airlines also seem to offer last minute redemptions ( presumably if bookings are lowish). It does appear this is sometimes the case with SQ albeit not much recently.

 

[dxwell]

Hey folks. Wondering if i could the experts opinion?. As of now there are heaps of flights from melb to cdg this week on promo saver/advantage.

Is this normal for like last minute flights to be avaialble??? As people talk a lot about avaialbility disappearing on the release date 1 year in advancw

Effective people are not problem-minded; they're opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems." — Stephen Covey

Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon them. Everyone must be challenged. A day dawns, quite like other days; in it, a single hour comes, quite like other hours; but in that day and in that hour the chance of a lifetime faces us." — Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Post automatically merged: Oct 1, 2023

@SOPOOR it is a sign, follow it

 

[Mr H]

yes I get what you are saying, and I dont even rely on waitlists clearing, as im quite skeptical of them clearning,
however, im just thinking, where people are reporting flight unavailability a year in advance, is the fact that flights are availble for tomorrow, a one in a million ?

There can be many reasons for seats to be released later in the cycle - maybe it is routine; maybe they are unsold revenue seats that look like they would otherwise be empty; maybe it is a schedule change or equipment change; maybe it is a publicity stunt to release a whole wodge of award seats; maybe it is PPS people who booked a slab of seats returning them to the pool... We will never know the reasons. Just take advantage when it happens and don't bank on it happening again - I am mindful of the sudden pulling of QR seats from availability for QF award bookings.

 

[dajop]

No, a year out is only one of the options, a number of airlines also seem to offer last minute redemptions ( presumably if bookings are lowish). It does appear this is sometimes the case with SQ albeit not much recently.

Historically not uncommon for SQ, and have over many years been able to grab last minute award redemptions. Granted that over the last 12 months last minute or even a few months in advance awards have been virtually non existent, due to ridiculously high loads, but that seems to be correcting rather quickly right now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

but that seems to be correcting rather quickly right now.

Not to China it isn't - scarce as hen's teeth