Using Singapore Airline miles for United bookings?
Oct 27, 2014, 6:32 am
#16
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
But CX I have flown a decent bit these days and understand less and less why they are seen as on par with SQ. And that comes from someone who thinks that the SQ uniforms look annoying and the StarAlliance sucks. So I am inclined to see the good in OW carriers.
Oct 27, 2014, 6:42 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Code:
Economy Class S, Y: 1.5 x distance; at least 750 miles B, E, H, M: 1.0 x distance; at least 500 miles L, W: 0.5 x distance; at least 250 miles
Oct 27, 2014, 9:31 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
I haven't flown them ... ever. So I have no good prejudice yet.
But CX I have flown a decent bit these days and understand less and less why they are seen as on par with SQ. And that comes from someone who thinks that the SQ uniforms look annoying and the StarAlliance sucks. So I am inclined to see the good in OW carriers.
But CX I have flown a decent bit these days and understand less and less why they are seen as on par with SQ. And that comes from someone who thinks that the SQ uniforms look annoying and the StarAlliance sucks. So I am inclined to see the good in OW carriers.
I too have defected from *A and that's been quite a feat considering most if not ALL of my flights involve either SIN or WAW.
Uniforms aside, and putting C redemptions on the back burner as well, I have to say that overall my best experiences have been with BA on the SIN-SYD route. If not for the fact that I'm sailing into Sydney this time and only require a one-way trip back to SIN, BA might have been the order of the day yet again (unfortunately like most carriers they went into "rip-off mode" as soon as I inquired about one-way travel...).
Oct 27, 2014, 9:36 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ, UA, Delta, BMI(RIP), Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond (Thanks Amex) Hyatt Discov
Posts: 1,942
Still love SQ, but we too have switched some US-Asia award flights to One World due to much better J class redemption availability - 4 CX flights, plus one JAL flight NYC-SIN versus one only on SQ, and great redemption deals with AA, Alaska and US Airways miles.
Oct 27, 2014, 10:36 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
BR started to offer decent PE fares .. but they are a tad far out of the way. So I am still hoping that SQ and LH will enter a decent duel with their new PE products.
Oct 28, 2014, 12:03 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
I completely ditched SQ by choice, costs had nothing to do with it in fact.
SQ is managed by idiots. Until recently I wasn't even able to book a SIN-WAW ticket online with SQ even though both airports are *A hubs (and LO's web site allows to book such flights). I could book this trip (from SIN!) via LO, BA, LH, EK, QR, AY, AF, KL, you name it... but not SQ.
On the SIN-SYD route I did consider all fares and here BA came out tops by far. SQ wasn't even competitive and that's putting things mildly so to speak...
All I use SQ for nowadays are redemptions in biz using miles earned via CC spend. That's it. Even though I used to clock up lots of miles and had status with them in the past, I now have to admit that I steer well clear of SQ nowadays.
SQ is managed by idiots. Until recently I wasn't even able to book a SIN-WAW ticket online with SQ even though both airports are *A hubs (and LO's web site allows to book such flights). I could book this trip (from SIN!) via LO, BA, LH, EK, QR, AY, AF, KL, you name it... but not SQ.
On the SIN-SYD route I did consider all fares and here BA came out tops by far. SQ wasn't even competitive and that's putting things mildly so to speak...
All I use SQ for nowadays are redemptions in biz using miles earned via CC spend. That's it. Even though I used to clock up lots of miles and had status with them in the past, I now have to admit that I steer well clear of SQ nowadays.
Oct 30, 2014, 9:31 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
But fares have improved and I hope the Magnums become imperial guaranteed standard and hopefully the advent of PE will bring the so badly overdue changes.
Oct 30, 2014, 7:28 pm
#24
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
But they are recovering. Yes, the website is a slap in the face and SQ severing all interlines with LH and other *A carriers did not help to make Europe travel any nicer.
But fares have improved and I hope the Magnums become imperial guaranteed standard and hopefully the advent of PE will bring the so badly overdue changes.
But fares have improved and I hope the Magnums become imperial guaranteed standard and hopefully the advent of PE will bring the so badly overdue changes.
There's always 7-11 for a last-minute ice-cream if need be.
As for PE, it'll be interesting to see how this pans out... SQ, LH, AY, LO, all going for PE in recent times like it's some sort of new trend...
Oct 31, 2014, 3:12 am
#25
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
DId you ever buy an icecream for consumption on the plane? The security folks @ Changi have debated with me that this was a "gel" and made me eat it on the spot
.PE is my new religion. Plus it has a tangible deity and quantifiable benefits which other cult can offer that?
Oct 31, 2014, 4:51 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
I agree, and although I'm not sure how this pans out on other carriers, it seems that the decent chances of a complimentary upgrade on BA from WT+ to Club make it even more worth it.
Oct 31, 2014, 6:01 am
#27
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SIN
Programs: JL GC | Marriott LT Silver | Global Entry | SQ Silver
Posts: 6,819
I wonder how much is PE in SQ in the future, probably 2x of Economy prices? And I guess it only makes sense to be installed on their long haul routes.
Last edited by lcpteck; Oct 31, 2014 at 6:11 am
Oct 31, 2014, 8:23 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
CX uses it on midhauls as well but I guess that SQ's true nemesis are LH and BA. So yes, longhaul only. Modern metal only.
Oct 31, 2014, 10:53 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
That is if you look at the whole picture and not just filling seats on aircraft. Singapore's main economic focus is on tourism. Yeah, loosing pax to BA or LH might not be great but it still has them going through SIN. But EK has changed the game completely and is able to bypass SIN entirely. In fact they've gone a step further and have pulled QF into using DXB over SIN.
Oct 31, 2014, 10:43 pm
#30
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
But as much as I dislike EK myself, I love them as a phenomenon as grace to them the whole el cheapo family crowd and the backpackers are gone from LH (not so much from SQ, unfortunately) and prices got a lot more competitive.
So the more there is of EK, the fewer reasons I will ever have to fly them.