Is LHR-SIN availability still rare for award flights?

aster · Feb 25, 13, 9:26 pm

A while back I considered making BAEC my main FFP but the only thing that stood in the way was virtually non-existent availability of award seats on the SIN route.

Is this still the case today or have things improved?

BAGoldBoy · Feb 25, 13, 9:54 pm

Rare as hens teeth I'm afraid

jamesjebell · Feb 25, 13, 9:58 pm

It opens up 2 days before the departure in J & F with Y earlier in my experience

wyvern · Feb 25, 13, 10:48 pm

UUA availability tends to open up 2-3 days before departure in my experience.

the_seeker1977 · Feb 25, 13, 10:55 pm

From my recent experience if you are looking less than 2 weeks out I've found seats at the back of the plane.

TravellerFrequently · Feb 25, 13, 11:17 pm

IME, it is very rare, as others have mentioned. I have got flights 11 months in advance in F, but it was not easy.

aster · Feb 25, 13, 11:23 pm

I should have added that I'm only interested in J (or possibly F) redemptions only.

Overall is it easier to score a seat on J or F? On LH F seems to be much easier, and recently on SQ I found Suites were much easier to book than biz.

Does the "Book with cash and upgrade with Avios" feature make things any easier or are upgrades even harder to score (Y to J)?

Wong Jnr · Feb 26, 13, 12:07 am

Not if you fly other one world. E.g Cathay, Malaysian, finnair or even JAL.
Non direct but there's usually plenty of availability.

borrible · Feb 26, 13, 12:28 am

My recent experience of getting J (MFU from E) has been good. I travelled mid-February LHR->SIN and will be returning SIN->LHR later this week (end-February) and on both occasions have managed to get the upgrade. About 5 days in advance in both cases.

I was monitoring the situation regularly prior to this and, from recollection, availability was opening up throughout January about 5 days prior and from mid-February at a similar period. Availability was not however opening up in early-February. From memory, it only started appearing from around 15 February onwards.

DYKWIA · Feb 26, 13, 12:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aster

I should have added that I'm only interested in J (or possibly F) redemptions only.

Overall is it easier to score a seat on J or F? On LH F seems to be much easier, and recently on SQ I found Suites were much easier to book than biz.

Does the "Book with cash and upgrade with Avios" feature make things any easier or are upgrades even harder to score (Y to J)?

Unfortunately, you can't do Y-J UUA. You'd need to book WT+.

aster · Feb 26, 13, 12:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wong Jnr

Not if you fly other one world. E.g Cathay, Malaysian, finnair or even JAL.
Non direct but there's usually plenty of availability.

Might have to look into this if it doesn't mean burning more miles for going the long way around (SIN to LHR via HKG). And haven't flown Cathay in ages so definitely up for a bit of deja vu.

Quote:

Originally Posted by borrible

My recent experience of getting J (MFU from E) has been good.

Does availability depend of your tier level or does everyone get the same? Because with no (Blue) status right now I'm really stuck in a hole if this makes a difference.

stevieed · Feb 26, 13, 12:53 am

Availability is not dependant on status, although when you reach either gold or GGL (I forget which) you do get a "joker" which opens up 4 rewards seats to you.

However, generally speaking, there is no difference to rewards availability based on status.

uk1 · Feb 26, 13, 1:01 am

Seemed irrelevant to the op - so deleted.

corporate-wage-slave · Feb 26, 13, 1:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieed

Availability is not dependant on status, although when you reach either gold or GGL (I forget which) you do get a "joker" which opens up 4 rewards seats to you.

However, generally speaking, there is no difference to rewards availability based on status.

GGLs get jokers. Golds also have enhanced access to WT availability, though I appreciate that isn't relevant to this particular case. However it is a way of getting a toe on the aircraft and then working your way towards the front.

stevieed · Feb 26, 13, 1:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by corporate-wage-slave

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieed

Availability is not dependant on status, although when you reach either gold or GGL (I forget which) you do get a "joker" which opens up 4 rewards seats to you.

However, generally speaking, there is no difference to rewards availability based on status.

GGLs get jokers. Golds also have enhanced access to WT availability, though I appreciate that isn't relevant to this particular case. However it is a way of getting a toe on the aircraft and then working your way towards the front.

Ah, I didn't quite know the full facts, apologies! Thanks for clarifying