Thank you so much for this very helpful reply! While I do speak Mandarin conversationally (I'm the daughter of Chinese-speaking immigrants), I don't want to be stranded in Beijing. I found that flight on the UA website but with a $2,000 price (as I'd be paying for SQ's flight on PE, only using my miles for the UA J class flight to Beijing).

Thanks for the head's up re: SQ abbreviations. I just went with SA as I haven't been on the SQ board here and didn't know. I also didn't realize those SQ miles absolutely expire in 36 months. I'm definitely going to switch to our UA accounts!

I saw that after November, UA is getting rid of the mileage award chart likely means my miles will be even more worthless. Sigh!

Damn, the A350 is the one SQ is flying nonstop SFO-SIN. I thought the non-Polaris UA J class seat we had going to TPE was uncomfortable (it was too narrow for me) and thought the wider seats on SQ would be far better. Are you super tall? Or was is the padding issue? The SQ website photos make the seat look so comfy!

Thanks again.