Why did we get upgraded... twice?

[bhazelbrown]

Just before Easter, we flew to UK on our usual twice yearly trip with Singapore Airlines. We made it to gold status Krisflyer last August by a fluke of timing, so were settling into the lounge at MEL. I'd just been reading the thread a few weeks ago about trying to get free upgrades, and he was going to try asking, then chickened out at the last minute. Suddenly we're paged by the receptionist who swapped our BP's with Business class BPs! Husband and I could not believe our luck!

After a wonderful flight to SIN, where we slept like logs on the flat beds, we traveled to LHR in economy as usual. Back to SIN economy, then..., lightning struck twice! Our BPs are replaced at the gate with Business class for the leg to MEL!

We were gobsmacked the first time, so just stunned the second time. We've been flying back and forth with SIA for about 4 years now, never upgraded at all, now suddenly twice in one trip!

So my question - why? Were more Economy seats needed? So they pick the highest status passenger in economy to bump up? Did they have detailed information on us, and were hoping we'd fly more often if impressed? Husband had recently rung them to go through how to upgrade to Business with points, he thought that might be why. Is it coincidence that they asked me to fill in survey form LHR-SIN? And I've just gotten a survey email from *A?

Don't get me wrong, it was marvelous!! But I'd like to know what we did right to get it...

Any thoughts??

Hazel

 

[Robert K]

Why did the chicken cross the road?
No one knows.

 

[yohy?!]

As I understand SIA typically will only upgrade it's Solitaire PPS members for free (that is people who travel only in business/first/suites and pay for their tickets).

You must have been incredibly lucky to be upgraded not once but twice, either that or they mistook you for celebrities or CEOs of major companies! I would think of this as being struck by lightning twice whilst holding a packet of hen's teeth!

 

[serfty]

Easter may have had something to do with it ... and perhaps a lack of PPS in economy ...

 

[Austman]

As I understand SIA typically will only upgrade it's Solitaire PPS members for free (that is people who travel only in business/first/suites and pay for their tickets).

You must have been incredibly lucky to be upgraded not once but twice, either that or they mistook you for celebrities or CEOs of major companies! I would think of this as being struck by lightning twice whilst holding a packet of hen's teeth!

I've been in the MEL SQ lounge as a *Gold (on SAS) when I was upgraded Y to J. The lounge attendant actually walked around the lounge as there were a few lucky persons getting a new BP. It happens!

 

[harvyk]

No one truly knows how the Op-Up gods work, there are many theories, some plausible, some crack pot, and some from people who never fly.
The reasons could be many and various (oversold Y, undersold J \ needed to do a rearrange to accommodate a cancelled flights pax \ the check in personreally really liked you etc) , and it's unlikely you'll ever know.

I've personally had lighting strike twice (the proverbial op-up kind) in a same set of flights, so it does happen.

 

[UP4014]

I've been upgraded a couple of times as my name is identical of the chairman of a listed mining company. Graciously accept and enjoy.

 

[amaroo]

What a brilliant "lightning strikes twice" occurrence - fantastic.

 

[ajca]

Only problem is that once you have flown Singapore Airlines business class (particularly on the A380 or 777-300ER) it is very very very hard to go back, even to another carrier's business class - much less economy.

 

[flyingfan]

Congratulations for having those fabled gods smile upon you - I've read that SQ is exceptionally parsimonious with upgrades. You'll have a wonderful travel story to tell now.

Might be time to buy a lottery ticket :!:


PS This is not meant to be financial advice

 

[JohnK]

Only problem is that once you have flown Singapore Airlines business class (particularly on the A380 or 777-300ER) it is very very very hard to go back, even to another carrier's business class - much less economy.

Really? I wasn't that impressed with SQ A380 business class in January. Flying QF economy SYD-BKK on the 747 next week and I did not even blink an eyelid when I booked the return flight for ~AUD800. Bulkhead and First Lounge before the flight should do me just fine.

The SQ A380 business class will have another chance to redeem this high reputation that everyone bestows upon it in October....

 

[lovestotravel]

Really? I wasn't that impressed with SQ A380 business class in January.

The SQ A380 business class will have another chance to redeem this high reputation that everyone bestows upon it in October....

Really, wow, you must be hard to please........

SQ A380 J is simply the best product out there, not perfect, but it's top of my list!

 

[Austman]

Really, wow, you must be hard to please........

SQ A380 J is simply the best product out there, not perfect, but it's top of my list!

I'm with JohnK. I'm always a bit underwhelmed on SQ. In F, J and Y (dozens of flights mixed over the classes). They hype it up far too much. It's good but not that good. There is always a bit of a spirit of "meaness" that I feel on SQ flights - at some point. Not always on board, but it's always there somewhere in the process: At check-in, in the lounge or sometimes on board. Still, it's a good airline.

 

[JohnK]

Really, wow, you must be hard to please........

SQ A380 J is simply the best product out there, not perfect, but it's top of my list!

To me it felt like sitting on a wide bench seat. Not a good feeling.

I guess the problem is that so many people rave on about it and it simply is not that good. But I guess we all want/need something different.

I don't want to disillusion myself that once in business class there is no way back to economy. I go where I see value and ~AUD800 for QF 747 economy is much better value (especially when you factor in that I will earn close to 20,000 QFF points for the flights) than ~AUD1,700 for SQ business class. But if I had to pay ~AUD1,200-AUD1,400 for that economy seat then the business class seat is starting to look like an OK alternative but full well knowing the hype that people place on the product is simply not true and I know what to expect.

 

[ajca]

SQ A380 J is simply the best product out there

Totally agree. I find it hard to sleep on planes but the SQ A380 J (and 77W) seats are just ridiculously comfortable. They must be like twice the width of most J seats so you can sort of stretch out in every direction, and the mattress and pillows are brilliant. They are the only J seats I've ever come across that can legitimately claim to able to turn into a "bed".

I also love the 1-2-1 layout. I have never been a fan of sleeping next to a complete stranger and SQ have finally solved this problem. Plus every seat having access to the aisle means no strangers climbing over you in the middle of the night.

To me it felt like sitting on a wide bench seat. Not a good feeling.

It does definitely depend on what you value - but what I personally value most is being able to sleep. Especially as I mostly catch overnight flights. For this the SQ A380 and 77W business seats are exceptionally good and IMHO much better than any other carriers.

But if you want to sit up and watch movies and enjoy the delicious food and wine, then I can see how the seat layout would be less attractive.

I guess the problem is that so many people rave on about it and it simply is not that good.

I guess it depends on what you are comparing it too! I have never come across anything even close to the long-haul SQ J product (except for F, of course, which doesn't count).

I go where I see value and ~AUD800 for QF 747 economy is much better value (especially when you factor in that I will earn close to 20,000 QFF points for the flights) than ~AUD1,700 for SQ business class.

Where do you find SQ A380 J seats for $1700?!

Anyway, I would say the choice between QF economy and SQ business is not a very reasonable or useful comparison. IMHO you can't realistically compare any economy class product with a business class product. They cater to different markets and it quickly becomes a very individual judgement about cost/benefit.

I think comparing different business class products is more relevant (and appropriate) - and when you compare different business class products, again, I think it would be very hard to beat SQ's.

 

[JohnK]

It does definitely depend on what you value - but what I personally value most is being able to sleep. Especially as I mostly catch overnight flights.

....

But if you want to sit up and watch movies and enjoy the delicious food and wine, then I can see how the seat layout would be less attractive.

I can sleep anywhere, anytime. Aircraft, bus, train, earthquake etc. I learnt very early on that sleep was all in the mind and all I needed to do was relax and sleep would come naturally. Of course it helps to be a little tired as well but ocassionally I may not be able to sleep. Not the end of the world.

Where do you find SQ A380 J seats for $1700?!

Everywhere. In fact it used to cost me much less than that with BMI redemptions but that has now disappeared. Look around the forums.

I think comparing different business class products is more relevant (and appropriate) - and when you compare different business class products, again, I think it would be very hard to beat SQ's.

In my opinion TG on both the A340 and 747 upper deck are much better products. I also find CX short haul business more than adequate and my preference of the lot would be Qantas but that is not possible at the asking price....

 

[opusman]

I flew SQ J back from London last year during the QF grounding and was similarly unimpressed. The seat is ok as a seat but as a bed I found it very uncomfortable (too short and too hard). That plus the lack of toiletries bag and (at best) patchy service made for a fairly underwhelming experience compared to QF.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'm with JohnK. I'm always a bit underwhelmed on SQ. In F, J and Y (dozens of flights mixed over the classes). They hype it up far too much. It's good but not that good. There is always a bit of a spirit of "meaness" that I feel on SQ flights - at some point. Not always on board, but it's always there somewhere in the process: At check-in, in the lounge or sometimes on board. Still, it's a good airline.

Yes I feel you are touching on something here. I was a PPS for a few years, indeed in the top bunch of Aussie PPS, had my own service rep.

Is it though the service delivery, the clinical nature rather than the down to earth qantas Aussie style perhaps?

There is nothing spontaneous or laid back about it, I don't want to be too critical of it as it is clinically very good, but it is missing something I agree.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I

In my opinion TG on both the A340 and 747 upper deck are much better products. I also find CX short haul business more than adequate and my preference of the lot would be Qantas but that is not possible at the asking price....

the TG777 is one of the best value propositions around John.

 

[drron]

I've been upgraded a couple of times as my name is identical of the chairman of a listed mining company. Graciously accept and enjoy.

Our neice has the same surname as the last CEO of Pan Am.She was flying to USA in economy and got upgraded to F.She could not understand why everyone on board was interested in how her father was until she read the on board literature.she then just lapped it up.