Is it a backtrack if you start at EWR (westbound) and then end at IAH? (Or the other way?) This was never an issue before because SIN-EWR was not allowed on the SQ only RTW.
I'm not sure how you can do westbound from EWR since SQ doesn't have a flight going westbound from EWR if I remember correctly. You can do EWR or IAH eastbound and end up in LAX or SFO.
Is SQ21 EWR-SIN a westbound or eastbound flight?
Could one not do EWR-SIN-Europe/FRA-JFK for a true RTW?
You could. EWR-SIN is a trans-pacific flight, even though it never actually flies that way.
You could even do EWR-SIN; SIN-DME-IAH. There's nothing in the rules that says you cannot exceed the actual RTW mileage between origin point and origin point. What the rule says is no backtracking, except in Europe. The North American application of the rule is the same as the application from LHR: you could originate at LHR east-around, and finish at either FRA or DME, both of which are east of Heathrow.
If you originate at SIN, you'd have to finish at SIN, since you couldn't go through SIN a second time to a beyond point. If you originated in SIN west-around, you could finish short, in say, HKG or NRT, and just blow off the final coupon.
Hi,
I have a question regarding which direction I should choose to get the "full experience" in F (and not sleep the whole flight). Westbound (SFO-HKG-SIN-FRA-JFK) or eastbound (JFK-FRA-SIN-HKG-SFO)?
Thanks...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Mac
Hi,
I have a question regarding which direction I should choose to get the "full experience" in F (and not sleep the whole flight). Westbound (SFO-HKG-SIN-FRA-JFK) or eastbound (JFK-FRA-SIN-HKG-SFO)?
Thanks...
It takes longer to fly westbound than eastbound. That's why I took mine westbound.
Hi,
I have a question regarding which direction I should choose to get the "full experience" in F (and not sleep the whole flight). Westbound (SFO-HKG-SIN-FRA-JFK) or eastbound (JFK-FRA-SIN-HKG-SFO)?
Thanks...
Personally, I prefer the eastbound schedule and would choose eastbound if for no other reason than the ungodly midnight (or 1AM) SFO departure. You also avoid having to get up early in FRA for that 8AM FRA-JFK departure. Eastbound allows you to experience the VS Clubhouse at JFK and a civilized 9PM JFK-FRA departure.
I agree the eastbound works better. For one thing, there aren't convenient, makeable connections westward from JFK to the west coast after SQ26 arrives in the late morning -- it's a really long layover. That might not be a problem if you're terminating somewhere else in North America (like FLL?), or if you use SQ62 and go to Houston -- the westward connections are better out of IAH (might be irrelevant if you're going to Florida).
Westward, you can avoid the 0100 departure from SFO by using either SQ15 ex-SFO, or SQ11 from LAX.
If you're into SQ's First Class meal service (can be a big part of the F experience), you get more dinners east-around: two each on SQ25 or SQ61, and two more if you use SQ2 SIN-SFO.
Finally, I second SFO777's comment about the Virgin Clubhouse at JFK: it's great place to hang out before SQ25 departs at 2115, and that's something you only get if go east-around, and use SQ25.
Last edited by Bitterroot; Sep 22, 09 at 11:05 am.
Wow, thanks for the great answers... Especially Bitterroot's. I'm not a breakfast person (I'd rather have dinner) so that makes the eastbound flights more attractive. However I would prefer to have a longer flight. I guess I can't have'm both right, haha.
I think the date I'm looking at SQ 1 leaves SFO at midnight (00:05AM). I would probably arrive around 1PM at SFO (from FLL) and take a room at the nearby Westin (I'll do this in case my flight out of FLL gets delayed). However, if I use the same strategy for taking SQ 25 out of JFK there aren't any decent hotels around JFK. I would have to wait around 8 hours at JFK.
Anyway, I'll think about it, east or west, west or east...
Wow, thanks for the great answers... Especially Bitterroot's. I'm not a breakfast person (I'd rather have dinner) so that makes the eastbound flights more attractive. However I would prefer to have a longer flight. I guess I can't have'm both right, haha.
I think the date I'm looking at SQ 1 leaves SFO at midnight (00:05AM). I would probably arrive around 1PM at SFO (from FLL) and take a room at the nearby Westin (I'll do this in case my flight out of FLL gets delayed). However, if I use the same strategy for taking SQ 25 out of JFK there aren't any decent hotels around JFK. I would have to wait around 8 hours at JFK.
Anyway, I'll think about it, east or west, west or east...
Coupla points:
1) There are, in fact, a few decent hotels around JFK -- the Sheraton isn't bad -- comfy beds and a small Club up on 7 with an internet terminal, lounge chairs, and coffee/fruit, and my guess is the Doubletree isn't bad either, though neither is a Westin.
2) The Virgin Clubhouse opens at 2 pm...just in time for lunch! I usually get there at two or so if staying overnight the night before, or no later than than 3:30 or 4:00 if coming from SFO on a same day connection to SQ 25.
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Added Inputs
I personally experience much less problem with jetlag flying West, so prefer the Westbound route. Also, the good thing about SQ026 which I previously used 4-6 times yaerly in F is that, despite the early departure, it is the first flight into the International Terminal at JFK so, from First, you can be through US Immigration first and bags come out quickly also because its the only flight. I was often out with a half hour, which is pretty unusual for a US Gateway, especially JFK. On the train link to other terminals it's possible to make good connections to most US cities, including the West Coast.
I now prefer LH on the Westerly pond hop because:
1. On principal I don't fly with SQ anymore unless no choice. So my F/RTW's out of CGK now are with *A using TG/LH/UA/NH
2. The LH F Terminal at FRA is superb.
3. LH has better departure times out of FRA (I'm not an early riser!) to most major US Cities, avoiding often multiple connections, especially to Fla with UA, all of which require another stop at IAD.
1. On principal I don't fly with SQ anymore unless no choice. So my F/RTW's out of CGK now are with *A using TG/LH/UA/NH
2. The LH F Terminal at FRA is superb.
3. LH has better departure times out of FRA (I'm not an early riser!) to most major US Cities, avoiding often multiple connections, especially to Fla with UA, all of which require another stop at IAD.
All very interesting but OP wants to fly SQ and pay only $6,700+ for RTW First. Sure the LH FCT is great but not worth an extra $5,300+.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SFO777
All very interesting but OP wants to fly SQ and pay only $6,700+ for RTW First. Sure the LH FCT is great but not worth an extra $5,300+.
Agreed. IF that fare is available and the A380 can be avoided (No F), go for it. Must confess, it's a long thread and I didn't read it all. Was really more chipping in on the more recent issues. I get *A FRTW for less than you suggest but I shuffle departure points and where I purchase tickets for the initial sector.
....BTW, can we still access Virgin Clubhouse in JFK? I thought I read somewhere that the access agreement may have changed?
Yes, it changed on May 1, 2009. You cannot access VS Clubhouse unless you fly VS. However, SQ doesn't have its own lounge at JFK. VS Clubhouse is the contracted lounge for F. You will be sent to Oasis for C class.
Yes, it changed on May 1, 2009. You cannot access VS Clubhouse unless you fly VS. However, SQ doesn't have its own lounge at JFK. VS Clubhouse is the contracted lounge for F. You will be sent to Oasis for C class.
You will be sent to Oasis for C class.
