SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[Human]

We're on SQ24 (SIN-JFK) in April next year and am looking forward to it very eagerly, hopefully it's a good experience.

Next year I'm booked to fly MEL-SIN-MAN-IAH: 36 hours from Melbourne to Houston the long way around, with about an hour layover in Singapore and 30 mins or so in Manchester. The icing on the cake is that at that time of day it's up to a 2-hour wait to clear immigration in IAH. I'll report back with how I feel at the end!

 

[mel-world]

Next year I'm booked to fly MEL-SIN-MAN-IAH: 36 hours from Melbourne to Houston the long way around, with about an hour layover in Singapore and 30 mins or so in Manchester. The icing on the cake is that at that time of day it's up to a 2-hour wait to clear immigration in IAH. I'll report back with how I feel at the end!

All in Y??

 

[Scr77]

All in Y??

Hell no! Surely it’s against the law to sell such things!

 

[Human]

All in Y??

Happily, I'll be in business class all the way. And I'm aware of the 96-hour rule for securing a bulkhead seat, so I'm hoping for one for at least some of the journey.

 

[Scr77]

Happily, I'll be in business class all the way. And I'm aware of the 96-hour rule for securing a bulkhead seat, so I'm hoping for one for at least some of the journey.

Insert relief emoji here.

Currently sitting In J on SIN-SEA. The non bulkhead, offset feet cubby holes are uncomfortable for long flights so good luck with your 96 hrs.

 

[I love to travel]

Is it your first time on SQ's ULR service?

It's the better part of a 24 hour day so would feel like it lasts forever.

We're on SQ24 (SIN-JFK) in April next year and am looking forward to it very eagerly, hopefully it's a good experience.

I can't imagine the hell-hole of Premium Economy on that flight, even Business can be a stretch. At least there's no Economy (What the hell are QF thinking with putting Y seats on their Project Sunrise flights?)...
Typical Qantarse.

Hope you enjoyed the remainder of the flight

It was actually ok for my first ULH, but for someone like me that does not sleep well on planes, the flight timings help. EWR to SIN means you sleep then try and get a few hours here and there on the plane and then fall into bed in SIN. SIN to JFK is similar, albeit with US immigration (MPC should help there)
I got 6 hours sleep over 2 stretches so just enough to tide me over. Crew were obviously tired but kind enough. WiFi was a godsend to help keep you entertained.
Whilst I wouldn't rush to do it again, sure beats JFK - FRA - SIN on SQ.

 

[luckypierre]

Happily, I'll be in business class all the way. And I'm aware of the 96-hour rule for securing a bulkhead seat, so I'm hoping for one for at least some of the journey.

Sometimes T-96 rule works, sometimes it doesn't . Jagged 91 D/F on a SQ LHR-SIN A380 flight in June, very comfortable. On the same trip tried the same for the next flight for seats 11 D/F on a 787-10 , but the computer said NO. (expertflyer showed that the seats were vacant ). The seats were occupied after boarding. In fact only one J seat spare 11A. I guess you cant win all the time.

 

[boomy]

I’ve recently canceled some flights which had schedule change on them. When asked what the new expiry date on the miles will be the answer was “we don’t know until the miles are back in your account”. To my surprise the miles were reinstated with Nov 24 expiry which is probably the original date. Seems unfair as these were involuntary changes done by the airline and previously miles were reinstated with at least another year expiry from the original date. Called KF to discuss the issue, it was escalated and now waiting for resolution.

 

[dajop]

It's the better part of a 24 hour day so would feel like it lasts forever.

We're on SQ24 (SIN-JFK) in April next year and am looking forward to it very eagerly, hopefully it's a good experience.

I can't imagine the hell-hole of Premium Economy on that flight, even Business can be a stretch. At least there's no Economy (What the hell are QF thinking with putting Y seats on their Project Sunrise flights?)...

We did SQ24 three weeks ago, in Premium Economy. Flying time was actually only about 17:15 or thereabouts. Actually enjoyed the flight, wasn't really hellish and the time passed really quickly . First time I've done this flight, although I have done SQ22 (SIN-EWR) several times when it used to operate the same schedule as SQ24 does now, but always in business.

TBH, only felt marginally longer than SIN-Europe flights which I've done in economy often (sometimes LHR can be 13-13.5 hrs), and certainly nice to get it all over and done in the one hop. Coming back we flew on SQ11 (LAX-NRT-SIN) and that felt like a longer trip.

What I liked is that we had a good nice sleep the night before, with the lunchtime departure, felt no need at all to sleep on the flight (although might have got a few winks here and there, not deliberate though) and got to hotel in downtown New York around 8:30pm. Caught the subway up to 14th and meandered back to the hotel near the WTC and was in bed by 11:30pm and got a great nights sleep. Arriving in the evening makes such a difference for me personally in minimising jet lag.

 

[dajop]

SIN to JFK is similar, albeit with US immigration (MPC should help there)

It's probably a case of luck of the draw with immigration. on SQ24 we managed to get in at a time when there were no other flights arriving and got through immigration in <5 mins (had MPC, but I don't think it would have made any difference as the arrivals hall was practically empty).

 

[BCons]

Insert relief emoji here.

Currently sitting In J on SIN-SEA. The non bulkhead, offset feet cubby holes are uncomfortable for long flights so good luck with your 96 hrs.

Aahh, on that flt in a few weeks. Interested to know yr experience in SEA, where we will hv a 4h layover. Care to post a brief report ? We chose that route (N to Alaska..) to avoid LAX

 

[Scr77]

Aahh, on that flt in a few weeks. Interested to know yr experience in SEA, where we will hv a 4h layover. Care to post a brief report ? We chose that route (N to Alaska..) to avoid LAX

SIN To SEA in J with SQ
- Departs at 9am, arrives at 9am same day flight time approx 15hrs. Means you should consider sleep options. We had been staying in Singapore, so tried for a couple of hours late in flight and then stay awake for rest of day in Seattle.
- the flight and and crew were great. Probably the best food we’ve had in J, probably even as good as the suites flight we took to get there, but maybe that’s about the choices you make.
- very smooth flight without the hint of turbulence
- more coughing than I usually notice but so far we are not sick
- flight punctuality seems reasonably reliable.
- although business pax deplane first, all business luggage came out last, so the luggage belt is a cramped free for all.
- you then will be at customs and immigration queue after the Y pax but the queue did move at a reasonable pace.
- at 9am, there was only one other international flight to contend with.
- I’m pretty sure when we deplaned, pax with transfers were split off from the majority, so I’m not sure how much of the above will apply to you.

 

[SOPOOR]

Question: do you/should you lower expectations of redemption vs cash? I know i do. But i feel i shouldn't have to

I just did long haul F
- got a 777 1st leg, service perfect, 2nd leg new suites, amazing, if i had paid cash, id be unhappy that it was a 777, since it felt like a wider J seat. But i considered the new suites as a bonus woth redemption (this is why we cant have nice things situation)

- requested an extra caviar, but got told only certain number is allocated, so they will give me if any spare. They did! Very happy, but had i been paying cash, second caviar i would expect

- the private room, excellent.
Ordered wagyu tenderloin, requested medium rare, they said has to be well done. When it came out it was like a non wagyu rump, very disappointing, real wagyu tenderloin should be the most tendee beef on earth (should i send constructive feedback). Once again if i was paying 10k-20k per flight, id expect perfection

-a non SIA flight but a premium middle eastern carrier, I flew F, one of the entrees i chose was sold out because someone has ate it. Didnt bother me, so i chose something else, but had i been paying cash, thats prerty poor

Do your expectations change or should they? (Without being a cough of course)

 

[Mr H]

Question: do you/should you lower expectations of redemption vs cash? I know i do. But i feel i shouldn't have to

I just did long haul F
- got a 777 1st leg, service perfect, 2nd leg new suites, amazing, if i had paid cash, id be unhappy that it was a 777, since it felt like a wider J seat. But i considered the new suites as a bonus woth redemption (this is why we cant have nice things situation)

- requested an extra caviar, but got told only certain number is allocated, so they will give me if any spare. They did! Very happy, but had i been paying cash, second caviar i would expect

- the private room, excellent.
Ordered wagyu tenderloin, requested medium rare, they said has to be well done. When it came out it was like a non wagyu rump, very disappointing, real wagyu tenderloin should be the most tendee beef on earth (should i send constructive feedback). Once again if i was paying 10k-20k per flight, id expect perfection

-a non SIA flight but a premium middle eastern carrier, I flew F, one of the entrees i chose was sold out because someone has ate it. Didnt bother me, so i chose something else, but had i been paying cash, thats prerty poor

Do your expectations change or should they? (Without being a cough of course)

One carrier (EK?) does not give its chauffeur service to redemption bookings but apart from that I expect the same service for award bookings as for revenue bookings. I have never asked for second helpings of caviar but I would assume if they load one serving per passenger that they could only do seconds if someone else doesn’t have theirs. That seems reasonable. And running out of food options has never been an issue for me in F with SQ but has been an issue with other carriers. Normally it is based on which seat you’re in - orders often taken from the front. QF, though, is over in taking orders in strict status order. That does grate.

 

[Cynicor]

Question: do you/should you lower expectations of redemption vs cash? I know i do. But i feel i shouldn't have to

I just did long haul F
- got a 777 1st leg, service perfect, 2nd leg new suites, amazing, if i had paid cash, id be unhappy that it was a 777, since it felt like a wider J seat. But i considered the new suites as a bonus woth redemption (this is why we cant have nice things situation)

- requested an extra caviar, but got told only certain number is allocated, so they will give me if any spare. They did! Very happy, but had i been paying cash, second caviar i would expect

- the private room, excellent.
Ordered wagyu tenderloin, requested medium rare, they said has to be well done. When it came out it was like a non wagyu rump, very disappointing, real wagyu tenderloin should be the most tendee beef on earth (should i send constructive feedback). Once again if i was paying 10k-20k per flight, id expect perfection

-a non SIA flight but a premium middle eastern carrier, I flew F, one of the entrees i chose was sold out because someone has ate it. Didnt bother me, so i chose something else, but had i been paying cash, thats prerty poor

Do your expectations change or should they? (Without being a cough of course)

You mention it, otherwise I wouldn’t say it, but I think your expectations would be in line with being a cough.

1. Second caviar can’t be expected. It’s 1 and that’s it. Anything more is a bonus.

2. Wagyu needs to be rendered due to the high fat levels. Medium rare would be chewing fat, anyone who knows steak should know that. It needs to be absolutely medium at the least.

3. On the seat, paying cash for the product is paying cash for the product. You should know what you are getting and that’s what you pay for. We say this about euro J as much as F seats which vary wildly.
Anyway, J is so good that you have identified- F is mostly about the service, soft product, not the seat any more.

 

[bussyboy]

Wagyu needs to be rendered due to the high fat levels. Medium rare would be chewing fat, anyone who knows steak should know that. It needs to be absolutely medium at the least.

There's plenty of "low grade" Wagyu out there, is just the breed of cattle and no guarantee of anything else nowadays. If it said MS5+ or more, then I'd be expecting some quality, and tasty, beef

 

[lovestotravel]

Question: do you/should you lower expectations of redemption vs cash? I know i do. But i feel i shouldn't have to

I just did long haul F
- got a 777 1st leg, service perfect, 2nd leg new suites, amazing, if i had paid cash, id be unhappy that it was a 777, since it felt like a wider J seat. But i considered the new suites as a bonus woth redemption (this is why we cant have nice things situation)

- requested an extra caviar, but got told only certain number is allocated, so they will give me if any spare. They did! Very happy, but had i been paying cash, second caviar i would expect

- the private room, excellent.
Ordered wagyu tenderloin, requested medium rare, they said has to be well done. When it came out it was like a non wagyu rump, very disappointing, real wagyu tenderloin should be the most tendee beef on earth (should i send constructive feedback). Once again if i was paying 10k-20k per flight, id expect perfection

-a non SIA flight but a premium middle eastern carrier, I flew F, one of the entrees i chose was sold out because someone has ate it. Didnt bother me, so i chose something else, but had i been paying cash, thats prerty poor

Do your expectations change or should they? (Without being a cough of course)

I expect the same service using both cash or points, that being said the corners are still being cut with SQ wherever they can

 

[drron]

When i lived in the Hunter Valley I was quite involved in the local Show Society. My first job was as the recorder on the stud beef section. through that I met a few cattle breeders. One owned a few abattoirs including the local one. We became good friends. Importation of Wagyu cattle from Japan was only allowed from 1991. Our friend was involved in the early importation. He was enthusiastic and so I took an interest. the history of Wagyu beef. It is fascinating.
There are actually 4 breeds of cross bred cattle in Japan that are called Wagyu. Only 1 has the typical marbling -the Japanese Black. It makes up 97% of the Japanese herd now.. Australia has the biggest herd of Wagyu outside of Japan.

Wagyu - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Cynicor]

Yep, that’s why every man and his dig serve up wagyu. Mince, burgers whatever. Most Aussie steaks served as wagyu barely have marbling until mbs 8+ and definently dint compare to a Japanese A5.

That said, i don’t know what they are serving in TPR but on SQ Suites I have has perfectly cooked A5.

 

[BCons]

SIN To SEA in J with SQ
- Departs at 9am, arrives at 9am same day flight time approx 15hrs. Means you should consider sleep options. We had been staying in Singapore, so tried for a couple of house late in flight and then stay awake for rest of day in Seattle.
- the flight and and crew were great. Probably the best food we’ve had in J, probably even as good as the suites flight we took to get there, but maybe that’s about the choices you make.
- very smooth flight without the hint of turbulence
- more coughing than I usually notice but so far we are not sick
- flight punctuality seems reasonably reliable.
- although business pax deplane first, all business luggage came out last, so the luggage belt is a cramped free for all.
- you then will be at customs and immigration queue after the Y pax but the queue did more at a reasonable pace.
- at 9am, there was only one other international flight to contend with.
- I’m pretty sure when we deplaned, pax with transfers were split off from the majority, so I’m not sure how much of the above will apple to you.

Thanks thats useful. We are on the SQ onight from Mel, 3 hrs in Spore, so plan to treat it as you did - normal day + short night. We hv a sep tkt w Alaska to follow, so will try to get bookings linked (AS is a partner of sorts with SQ) if that means we can interline our bags after customs and stay airside..