SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[billmurray]

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

I did this back in 2018. Was my first time on an a350. It was really great flight. Super comfortable, great cabin temperature and humidity, quiet. Was able to sleep nearly 6-8 hrs of it because it's this

I did do several laps of the terminal while waiting beforehand to stretch the legs and tire myself out (as much as you can walking...) Before the fight. Probably did close to 20k steps while waiting.

 

[Mr H]

If you go in with a mindset that it's OK to have a dark space without windows…

And if my grandmother had wheels she’d be a bicycle.

 

[NoName]

Going to be flying out of SYD at the end of the year and note SK lounge opening time is 5:30am. Anyone want to hazard a guess whether this will move to an earlier opening once SQ202 kicks off in late October? A 5:30am opening doesn’t leave much lounge time for a 6:45am departure when considering boarding will probably be at like 6:00am.

 

[jamesatfish]

Each to their own. And not at all desperate.

For an outstation, I like the SQ F space, it's peaceful, secluded and usually very quiet. I'm completely over lounges with hustle and bustle. If I want to visit a pub or bar then I would. If you go in with a mindset that it's OK to have a dark space without windows it's quite OK. I think it's an entirely reasonable and appropriate space for the number of F passengers and Solitaire PPS members that fly out of MEL on a daily basis. Never been there with more than a dozen others, usually it's just 4-5 pax.

Edit: in the current version of the catering. Earlier this year the catering got quite bad, but has definitely improved, perhaps since @Cruiser Elite gave them a shot across their bow.

Fully agree - I really enjoy the SQ F lounge in Sydney.

Very rarely more than 4 people in the lounge, a massive contrast to the crowds in the QF F lounge most days. Food has always been nice - truffle eggs for breakfast a few weeks ago was top notch, as was the coffee.

Coupled with the 4 pax F cabin on the 777 it really makes for a private-esque experience, especially when travelling as a couple or family of 4.

 

[N860CR]

Going to be flying out of SYD at the end of the year and note SK lounge opening time is 5:30am. Anyone want to hazard a guess whether this will move to an earlier opening once SQ202 kicks off in late October? A 5:30am opening doesn’t leave much lounge time for a 6:45am departure when considering boarding will probably be at like 6:00am.

I’d hazard a guess it’ll open a lot earlier. I think the EK lounge opens at 4 so I’d assume the same.

 

[SOPOOR]

Today i learnt a lesson and there was a potential incident for me.
At changi. My boarding pass didnt have the gate
I was sitting in the lounge, i asked lounge attendant what time and which gate i should go, they said go to B3, about min 25 min before flight. About 45min before i head to B1-B4. My flight isnt on the screen, the guy at the gate says, your flight to melb is next, youre too early. Wait 20 mins, the flight on screen is different
Another gate attendant says, Melb doesnt fly from here its a3, check the screen it says a3. Run to a3, they say, flights to melb are b6,
Ran to B6, and the gate manager is looking for me and tells me, we were about to offload your luggage.

I should have checked myself, but a stressful moment having me to run from b3 to a3 to b6

 

[N860CR]

Today i learnt a lesson and there was a potential incident for me.
At changi. My boarding pass didnt have the gate
I was sitting in the lounge, i asked lounge attendant what time and which gate i should go, they said go to B3, about min 25 min before flight. About 45min before i head to B1-B4. My flight isnt on the screen, the guy at the gate says, your flight to melb is next, youre too early. Wait 20 mins, the flight on screen is different
Another gate attendant says, Melb doesnt fly from here its a3, check the screen it says a3. Run to a3, they say, flights to melb are b6,
Ran to B6, and the gate manager is looking for me and tells me, we were about to offload your luggage.

I should have checked myself, but a stressful moment having me to run from b3 to a3 to b6

I nearly did the same a year or so ago. Flight had no gate assigned and the lounge staff member in T3 said “we’ll make an announcement”. I check the screen 30 mins later and it says “final call”…. In T2. Fortunately made it.

It has taught me to keep a closer eye on gates at Changi and not rely on SQ staff

 

[daft009]

Today i learnt a lesson and there was a potential incident for me.
At changi. My boarding pass didnt have the gate
I was sitting in the lounge, i asked lounge attendant what time and which gate i should go, they said go to B3, about min 25 min before flight. About 45min before i head to B1-B4. My flight isnt on the screen, the guy at the gate says, your flight to melb is next, youre too early. Wait 20 mins, the flight on screen is different
Another gate attendant says, Melb doesnt fly from here its a3, check the screen it says a3. Run to a3, they say, flights to melb are b6,
Ran to B6, and the gate manager is looking for me and tells me, we were about to offload your luggage.

I should have checked myself, but a stressful moment having me to run from b3 to a3 to b6

so the screens in the lounge didnt mention a gate either? or you didnt check those?

 

[SOPOOR]

so the screens in the lounge didnt mention a gate either? or you didnt check those?

Didnt check them, i asked the staff, as i was very tired
My mistake in hindsight

 

[Comoman]

I should have checked myself, but a stressful moment having me to run from b3 to a3 to b6

You’ll certainly do your 10000 steps!

 

[EnweiBNE]

I am staying at the Pullman Brisbane with the wife for a significant celebration and what a beautiful sight to see Singapore Airlines crew checking in/checking out.The crew checking in still look as fresh as the crew checking out. Have never really thought about the logistics of flight crews staying over.

Was talking with the concierge this morning and he said that mostly the flight crews stay just under 24 hours but sometimes it may be 2 nights. There is SQ flight that arrives around 7.00am and that crew will fly out the next morning on the flight that leaves at 9.10am. With Brisbane now having 4 SQ flights some days there must be some pressure on the hotel to get the rooms ready. The concierge also said that Cathay Pacific and Eva stay at the Pullman.

I could see pilots sitting and talking with the cabin crew. Emirates used to stay at the Hilton in Brisbane (they now stay at Next) and when in the lobby bar you could see that there was no mixing between the pilots and the cabin crew.

moffat39: What a Great Post, I do enjoy travelling with Singapore Airlines ( have done so on their 30th and 40th anniversary in Brisbane) and do know that they are a major carrier at Brisbane. I quite enjoy the Pullman Hotel and the bus that I take stops across from it when I get into the city. I am not sure when the last time I saw Singapore Crew was but Singapore Airlines is now back to four flights on four days of the week, all using A350 900 medium haul aircraft.

 

[Gold Member]

I’m trying to search for Star Alliance business partner awards ex-DOH however the booking engine throws up the following error: “Due to a system limitation, the flights for the origin and destination you have selected cannot be displayed. Please select another date/itinerary.”

I know some airlines have ticketing limitations in certain countries so I wonder if this is causing the issue. Is there a work around other than calling SQ? I’ve tried one-way and return combinations with different destinations, cabins and dates but nothing helps.

 

[bernardblack]

DOH might not be on SQ's list due to negligible presence of Star partners. Who would fly there? Maybe AI, perhaps LH?

 

[n7of9]

SQ J Sydney lounge closed 10-31 Aug 2024. Redirected to Air NZ lounge. What should I expect there tomorrow? Is the decor still unnecessarily white and bright?

 

[Gold Member]

DOH might not be on SQ's list due to negligible presence of Star partners. Who would fly there? Maybe AI, perhaps LH?

It’s certainly not a prime hub, but TK and ET also fly there.

 

[Mr H]

It’s certainly not a prime hub, but TK and ET also fly there.

And MS for that Misr-able flying experience.

 

[EnweiBNE]

I am staying at the Pullman Brisbane with the wife for a significant celebration and what a beautiful sight to see Singapore Airlines crew checking in/checking out.The crew checking in still look as fresh as the crew checking out. Have never really thought about the logistics of flight crews staying over.

Was talking with the concierge this morning and he said that mostly the flight crews stay just under 24 hours but sometimes it may be 2 nights. There is SQ flight that arrives around 7.00am and that crew will fly out the next morning on the flight that leaves at 9.10am. With Brisbane now having 4 SQ flights some days there must be some pressure on the hotel to get the rooms ready. The concierge also said that Cathay Pacific and Eva stay at the Pullman.

I could see pilots sitting and talking with the cabin crew. Emirates used to stay at the Hilton in Brisbane (they now stay at Next) and when in the lobby bar you could see that there was no mixing between the pilots and the cabin crew.

Living IN Brisbane and travel singapore airlines before , am really glad to say that singapore airlines is now back to four flights some days of the week, I have seen them at Pullman Brisbane and am not sure if they are still there or not, however the bus I take into the city stops right across, Pullman is actaully a great hotel., I travelled singapore airlines several times from Brisbane to Singapore including in July 2024 , their 40th anniversary year of flying into Brisbane as well as their 30th anniversart flying into Brisbane.

 

[SOPOOR]

Living IN Brisbane and travel singapore airlines before , am really glad to say that singapore airlines is now back to four flights some days of the week, I have seen them at Pullman Brisbane and am not sure if they are still there or not, however the bus I take into the city stops right across, Pullman is actaully a great hotel., I travelled singapore airlines several times from Brisbane to Singapore including in July 2024 , their 40th anniversary year of flying into Brisbane as well as their 30th anniversart flying into Brisbane.

Do CA staff get one room per person?

I mean if the airline is paying discounted $200 per room per person every 3 days or so, thats got to add up

 

[sudoer]

Do CA staff get one room per person?

Yes

I mean if the airline is paying discounted $200 per room per person every 3 days or so, thats got to add up

You might be surprised at the rates that can be negotiated - airlines requiring the room night volume that SQ does would certainly be paying less than $200 per room night in Brisbane.

SQ has an average ~3.5 x A359 arrivals per day. I'm not sure of the exact number of pilots & crew SQ rostered on an A359 departure, or their mandated rest between shifts but for the sake of the example, let's assume 10 FAs, 2 pilots, and a minimum turn of 36 hours for FAs and 48 hours for pilots.

That's 19160 room nights per year / 52 rooms per night for the FAs, and 5110 room nights per year / 14 rooms per night for the pilots. Pullman Brisbane only has 210 rooms, so accommodating the SQ FAs alone would guarantee 25% occupancy.

Then consider these contracts are often negotiated for 3-5 years, and you'll appreciate the airlines have an awful lot of leverage for negotiations. A contract to accommodate both FAs and pilots may come close to covering Pullman's fixed operating costs, and significantly derisks their operation....

 

[EnweiBNE]

Yes



You might be surprised at the rates that can be negotiated - airlines requiring the room night volume that SQ does would certainly be paying less than $200 per room night in Brisbane.

SQ has an average ~3.5 x A359 arrivals per day. I'm not sure of the exact number of pilots & crew SQ rostered on an A359 departure, or their mandated rest between shifts but for the sake of the example, let's assume 10 FAs, 2 pilots, and a minimum turn of 36 hours for FAs and 48 hours for pilots.

That's 19160 room nights per year / 52 rooms per night for the FAs, and 5110 room nights per year / 14 rooms per night for the pilots. Pullman Brisbane only has 210 rooms, so accommodating the SQ FAs alone would guarantee 25% occupancy.

Then consider these contracts are often negotiated for 3-5 years, and you'll appreciate the airlines have an awful lot of leverage for negotiations. A contract to accommodate both FAs and pilots may come close to covering Pullman's fixed operating costs, and significantly derisks their operation....

Do CA staff get one room per person?

I mean if the airline is paying discounted $200 per room per person every 3 days or so, thats got to add up

yes I believe they do, so that means that for each flight one crew gets one room per person.