SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Monya Meow Meow]

Aside from trying to get an overnight at SIN on the back of an afternoon flight to SIN and morning flight to ICN ? I'd probably opt for the MEL-SIN overnight as SQ 608 flying time is typically (at the moment) 5:20-5:30 hrs from takeoff to landing vs SQ 218 which is about 6:55-7:15 The extra 1.5 hrs in the air could make a difference to the amount of sleep you actually get.

On that note, @dajop or anybody else for that matter, is it possible for me to send our luggage straight from MEL to ICN without having to retrieve them at Changi if I were to book the following on seperate itineraries?

SQ238 10:35-15:15 then next day SQ600 08:00-15:35

If it's not possible, would I be able to do an early check-in straight after arriving into Changi?
Thanks.

 

[mel-world]

On that note, @dajop or anybody else for that matter, is it possible for me to send our luggage straight from MEL to ICN without having to retrieve them at Changi if I were to book the following on seperate itineraries?

SQ238 10:35-15:15 then next day SQ600 08:00-15:35

If it's not possible, would I be able to do an early check-in straight after arriving into Changi?
Thanks.

You could put this all on one booking with a single PNR. If it is on one booking and as the stopover is less than 24 hours, your luggage will be tagged all the way to ICN. If you ask SQ (nicely) in MEL, they will most likely do it, even on seperate itineraries, especially as both flights are on SQ.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

You could put this all on one booking with a single PNR. If it is on one booking and as the stopover is less than 24 hours, your luggage will be tagged all the way to ICN. If you ask SQ (nicely) in MEL, they will most likely do it, even on seperate itineraries, especially as both flights are on SQ.

I am redeeming through Velocity so unable to put them in the 1 booking for this itinerary. Not sure if calling the Velocity helpline to book is possible this way.

But will ask the check-in counters nicely to see if they can help out
Thanks!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Make sure you have physical print out of both itineraries so you can plonk them in front of checkin agent

 

[dajop]

It shouldn’t be a problem. But yes have the printouts and the other watch out is to make sure they connect to the flight on the right day!

Last year I did a separate PNR connection from SIN-FRA (SQ) arriving in the evening and then departing next morning on LH. No problems, all done, but as I was walking away from checkin desk I noticed on the luggage tags that she’d checked it through to the LH flight on the same day (impossible) not the next morning. Luckily it hadn’t been sent down the chute.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

Another silly question, if the check-in agent does indeed check our bags all the way to ICN, does that mean we will get the boarding passes for both legs and do not need to clear immigration at Changi?

This will determine if I am able to book a room at Aerotel (no clearing) or Yotel (need to clear) instead.

 

[mel-world]

You will get both boarding passes. You can either stay at the transit hotel (I find that quite satisfactory) but give yourself time to explore the airport as well.

Or you can clear immigration and enjoy Singapore.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Advice please… a380, connection time in London around 90 mins, all in T2.

Row 11 double bed, or row 91?

Row 11 will get off first, but is miles from the WC! Row 91 close to WCs, but could delay getting off in a timely manner? Also around row 91 is looking pretty empty. Front cabin is chockers.

 

[Telemachus]

On that note, @dajop or anybody else for that matter, is it possible for me to send our luggage straight from MEL to ICN without having to retrieve them at Changi if I were to book the following on seperate itineraries?

SQ238 10:35-15:15 then next day SQ600 08:00-15:35

If it's not possible, would I be able to do an early check-in straight after arriving into Changi?
Thanks.

I think you already have a good steer from other posters but I’ll just add my experience from last year doing something similar to you. I was flying SYD-SIN-LHR return on 2 PNRs – revenue ticket SYD-SIN and Velocity award SIN-LHR. Outbound SIN stopover was <24 hrs, SQ agent at SYD check-in booked my checked bag through to LHR and issued both BPs. Inbound SIN stopover was >24 hrs so bag was checked to SIN and I had to check in again at SIN to drop the bag and receive the BP for SIN-SYD: I was able to do this immediately on arrival at SIN from LHR (even though my onward sector to SYD was more than 24 hrs away) because SQ offers counter check-in up to 48 hrs pre-departure.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

You will get both boarding passes. You can either stay at the transit hotel (I find that quite satisfactory) but give yourself time to explore the airport as well.

Or you can clear immigration and enjoy Singapore.

Awesome that's great to hear, looks like making sure I get both boarding passes is key during the MEL check-in.

We will have a few days to spend with friends and family on our return from Seoul so would rather just stay within the Changi vicinity.
Having a 10 month old and 3 year old does not give us a lot of mobility unfortunately

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

I think you already have a good steer from other posters but I’ll just add my experience from last year doing something similar to you. I was flying SYD-SIN-LHR return on 2 PNRs – revenue ticket SYD-SIN and Velocity award SIN-LHR. Outbound SIN stopover was <24 hrs, SQ agent at SYD check-in booked my checked bag through to LHR and issued both BPs. Inbound SIN stopover was >24 hrs so bag was checked to SIN and I had to check in again at SIN to drop the bag and receive the BP for SIN-SYD: I was able to do this immediately on arrival at SIN from LHR (even though my onward sector to SYD was more than 24 hrs away) because SQ offers counter check-in up to 48 hrs pre-departure.

Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience and confirming that in the worse case that we are unable to get both boarding passes for whatever reason, we can just check-in immediately upon arrival

 

[foggy]

can anyone advise what's going on with availability out of China ? Or is it my account being locked out from seats?

 

[boomy]

Anyone been to the lounge in ZRH recently? Flying back from there later in the year and haven't been there for some years. Need to find a reasonable hotel near the airport as well. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

Was there recently. For airport hotel I can recommend Hyatt which is short walking distance from the terminal. Hilton is another option but will require short shuttle bus transfer.


Swiss J lounge is decent considering it’s their 3rd tier lounge behind F and Senator (can access the latter if you’re *G).

 

[mel-world]

can anyone advise what's going on with availability out of China ? Or is it my account being locked out from seats?

I think you will find that CNY in 2025 is early, at the end of January.

 

[foggy]

I think you will find that CNY in 2025 is early, at the end of January.

So do you think it's getting snapped up or is singapore airlines not releasing seats?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

can anyone advise what's going on with availability out of China ? Or is it my account being locked out from seats?

China has been really difficult since reopening. They did and still have limited flts not that that is all the prob. PVG has been easier than PEK which has been a nightmare and still really difficult.

There is word that negs are taking place to instigate 30day visas or some such for SG residents - PEK might see 380 back on that route when these begs are completed which should free up some inventory - I really don’t know much more other than more SQ flts should come online over next couple months.

Will that help for early 2025 I have NFI.

FWIW yesterday I redeemed F Adv SYD-SIN-PVG for May 3, 2024 as I had stuffed up dep date ex MEL and could not get F or J ex MEL and I need to be in SH May 5.

 

[mel-world]

So do you think it's getting snapped up or is singapore airlines not releasing seats?

Either or. If they are allowing you to WL indicates that seats were probably released and they were snapped up. I've seen seats released at 0800 SIN time on a day and being exhausted by 0810, especially the limited Saver seats. SYD to Europe is especially popular on many flights for the European summer and Chinese holidays.

 

[foggy]

Seats just released as waitlisted

 

[ThatMrBlake]

Had my first ever SQ J flight yesterday and I am feeling a little bit mixed about the experience. People here and on other sites rave and rave about how good SQ but overall I felt it was a bit pedestrian with nothing that greatly sets itself better than its competition.

Maybe this is more reflective of the regional J product that Brisbane gets lumped with but still not the best first impression.

A few notes from the trip:

- The Brisbane SilverKris lounge was extremely small and had disappointing catering. I would hate to see this lounge with a bunch of status holders plus J in there. I would rate the Plaza premium outpost above this lounge.

- Priority boarding enforced which is a tick.

- Welcome drinks offered with a decent selection vs the standard sparkling, water or juice.

- I don’t eat seafood and the lack of a non-seafood based appetiser was disappointing. Equally disappointing was the lamb dish which lacked flavour or flair. Asked for a snack in between lunch and the refreshment service and was a little shocked that the only snack on offer was a short bread biscuit. Apparently the Virgin Australia pantry is better stocked for snacks than Singapore Air, who knew.

- Couldn’t fault the service or the drinks. Drinks was reactive via call bell vs anything proactive.

- The regional J seat is fine, but I suspect this isn’t SQs best foot forward and this is the biggest area where I don’t see much of a difference to any other major J carrier out of Brisbane.

Overall, it was a fine trip. It just didn’t live up to the expectations set by others online.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Had my first ever SQ J flight yesterday and I am feeling a little bit mixed about the experience. People here and on other sites rave and rave about how good SQ but overall I felt it was a bit pedestrian with nothing that greatly sets itself better than its competition.

Maybe this is more reflective of the regional J product that Brisbane gets lumped with but still not the best first impression.

A few notes from the trip:

- The Brisbane SilverKris lounge was extremely small and had disappointing catering. I would hate to see this lounge with a bunch of status holders plus J in there. I would rate the Plaza premium outpost above this lounge.

- Priority boarding enforced which is a tick.

- Welcome drinks offered with a decent selection vs the standard sparkling, water or juice.

- I don’t eat seafood and the lack of a non-seafood based appetiser was disappointing. Equally disappointing was the lamb dish which lacked flavour or flair. Asked for a snack in between lunch and the refreshment service and was a little shocked that the only snack on offer was a short bread biscuit. Apparently the Virgin Australia pantry is better stocked for snacks than Singapore Air, who knew.

- Couldn’t fault the service or the drinks. Drinks was reactive via call bell vs anything proactive.

- The regional J seat is fine, but I suspect this isn’t SQs best foot forward and this is the biggest area where I don’t see much of a difference to any other major J carrier out of Brisbane.

Overall, it was a fine trip. It just didn’t live up to the expectations set by others online.

Agree, the food really isn’t up to scratch. There’s been a bit a of decline since pre-covid days.

What sets them apart however is the service. It really is at first class standards in business.